Last year’s Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Des Champs was a fortunate winner of the featured Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase at Limerick today.

The son of Robin Des Champs (4/7f) raced into the straight in a close second to leader Knockfierna but was under pressure to close the gap. However things changed dramatically at the second last fence with the leader ducking out through the wing, despite her jockey Niall Madden’s best efforts to keep the mare in line.

The winner was then left to coast home the easy seven lengths winner over Four Commanders while both Knockfierna and Madden subsequently walked away uninjured.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins was absent but his nephew, the winning jockey Emmet Mullins, later said “I thought I had Knockfierna covered when she exited – she was getting backhanders the whole way and I was surprised she was still there turning in for home.”

“I was full of running at the time and I was very happy with him today.”

Stan James Bookmakers subsequently cut Sir Des Champs to 10/1, from 12/1, for the RSA Chase.