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Kemboy raises the pulse of his many backers
Captured perfectly by the Healys, Kemboy and Paul Townend get the last wrong but still win
© Photo Healy Racing
Strongly backed odds on favourite Kemboy justified the confidence of his supporters, but not before giving them a scare at the last in the Book Your Easter Festival Tickets Today Beginners Chase.
The Willie Mullins-trained and Paul Townend-ridden Kemboy had given an exhibition of jumping from the front in the opener at Fairyhouse.
He had the pursuing C'est Jersey beaten when making a bad mistake at the last, briefly taking the reins from Townend's hands.
However the 2/5 shot stayed underneath the former champion and they raced on for a six length success.
Willie Mullins trains C'est Jersey, and the Closutton handler had a 1,2,3 as Cap D'Aubois finished twelve lengths further back in the bronze medal position.
"Supreme Racing were telling me that is there 100th winner with me. Pique Sous was their first runner," said Mullins.
"Kemboy improved from his first run and I hope he'll improve again. He jumped great except for being unlucky at the last.
"Paul lit him up and felt he was going too fast at it. I'd imagine he'll go up in grade and he deserves to go up in grade.
"We'll keep the good entries open for him and I'd imagine they are keen to travel with him. He won't go to the Dublin festival and we'll see whether he has another run or goes straight to Cheltenham.
"He would look a JLT horse and looks good enough to go into that."
(GC & EM)