The finish to the Grade 1 betchronicle.com Champion Bumper at Punchestown today was akin to the tussle to be this year’s Champion Owner with Gigginstown House Stud’s Lovethehigherlaw edging out the J.P. McManus owned Waaheb by a short head.

McManus currently leads Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud by approximately €100,000 but O’Leary’s Lovethehigherlaw did a bit for his side, winning under a strong ride from Patrick Mullins to edge out Waaheb in a thrilling finish.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins, father of the winning jockey, “Patrick gave him a super ride and did everything we asked him to do. I thought he was taking a chance to come between horses early in the straight but seeing as how far he won, it was the right decision.”

“Lovethehigherlaw will start off next season over short trips over hurdles but will have no difficulty stepping up to 2m4f or 2m6f later in the season.”

“Our decision not to bring Lovethehigherlaw to Cheltenham was now the right one but I still don’t know how he got beaten at Limerick – maybe I had given the wrong instructions. He shows us he is a super horse at home and himself and Waaheb are two really good horses.”

After the race, the Stewards suspended both winning and runner-up riders Patrick Mullins and Robbie McNamara for two days for using their whips with excessive frequency.

Thomas Weekes