Royal Rendezvous and Danny Mullins jump the last upsides Hardline © Photo Healy Racing
The 10/11 favourite Royal Rendezvous came out on top in a dramatic PWC Champion Chase to give Danny Mullins his first winner since returning from injury.
The Galway Plate winner was towards the head of affairs from the outset along with outsider Abbey Magic and led before the home turn with three to jump.
The King’s Theatre gelding jumped right across his pursuing stablemate Easy Game at the third-last leaving last year’s winner with little landing room and causing Brian Hayes to be unseated.
22/1 chance Hardline was also in contention at this point and soon hit the front. Switched left to renew his effort between the final to fences, Royal Rendezvous was narrowly back in front at the last and stayed on well to thwart his rival, who hadn’t run since falling in this race a year ago, by half a length.
It was a fourth win over fences for the 9-year-old.
David Casey, representing winning trainer Willie Mullins, said: “He has a habit of jumping a bit right but that’s why the track and the race suited him.
“He got hampered at the first but jumped quite well and battled well after the last.
“Maybe something like the Clonmel Oil Chase could suit him next. He seems to handle this nice ground.”
The winning rider, who returned to action at this track yesterday, remarked: “He’s a good tough horse and I’ve been lucky enough to win on him a couple of times before.
“Once I jumped the second last I was gaining on Jack (Kennedy) but not quite quick enough to go through on the inside so that’s why I switched. I was always happy that he was going to get there.
“He has his own way of jumping but he jumps forward and fast which is what you need in a racehorse — it’s not a showjumping contest.”
Champion Chase winner Put The Kettle On was a late withdrawal from her intended reappearance.
“The ground was a bit better than ideal for her and we thought it was the safer thing to do,” said her trainer Henry de Bromhead.
“It’s the owners local track and they always wanted to run her here.
“She will probably go back again (to Cheltenham) for the Shloer Chase in November.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
