Champion Trainer Willie Mullins recorded a double at Gowran today as his Montalbano made it third time lucky over fences to win the PMF Accountants Beginners Chase under David Mullins.

The son of Monsieur Bond had come a cropper on his only two previous chase outings but was much more assured today when scoring a three and a half lengths win over De Plotting Shed

Mullins, who Scarpeta won the opener under Paul Townend, later commented “he (Montalbano) learned a bit from his previous experience and I thought David got a fantastic jump out of him at the last. I think it was the difference between winning and losing.

“I was surprised how well he handled that really heavy ground and he's a horse that's improving.

“David said he was fantastic at the second last. I wasn't down there but I was right at the last and I thought he was very very clever and very good. He'll be better as he gets drier ground in the spring.”

Quotes from Gary Carson