MacDermott © Photo Healy Racing
MacDermott (5/1) enjoyed the step up in trip to three miles when making all in the Envirogreen Building Services Handicap Chase.
The Saint des Saints gelding wasn't foot perfect all the way around for Danny Mullins but avoided any major blunders and stayed on well to beat Better Times Ahead by a dozen lengths.
Winning trainer Wille Mullins remarked: “He's been running over trips that were too short for him but we couldn't find races for him.
“Today was the first time he got his ground and trip. He's a horse that I'd be really looking forward to going over extended trips in the future, in some of the those bigger handicaps.
“He could be an Irish National horse or one for Aintree, any of those extended races.
“I think he's only coming to himself. He's a very gross horse and it's taken me a long time to get him fit.”
Of his three runners in the Irish Grand National, he added: “I was really pleased with Minella Cocooner (third), he ran a cracker.
“Nick Rockett (seventh) ran well as well but just had too much weight. We'llhavewan (sixth) just didn't get home today but we do know he stays that trip.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
