Bronn holds on to bring up 4,000 winners for Mullins

Bronn scrambled home in the opening beginners' chase at Fairyhouse to create history as Willie Mullins' 4,000th career winner.

Just the three horses went to post for this extended 2m5f assignment and 2/9 favourite Bronn set out to make all under Daryl Jacob in the 'double green' colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Grandero Bello raced second with chasing debutant Clondaw Hollow in rear.

The order remained unchanged until Grandero Bello made a race of it after the second-last fence. He strongly challenged Bronn and Jacob had to get serious with the long odds-on favourite.

Bronn held a narrow lead at the last where he was less than fluent and again Grandero Bello came at him, but the 'jolly' fended him off by a diminishing neck.

Jacob said: It was great to be a very small part of history.

“No words can really describe how good a man Willie is and what he has achieved. To be a small part of that history is fantastic.”

On the winner, he added: “He doesn't do a whole lot in front and was looking around an awful lot.

“I thought I had him beaten comfortably going to the last, but he started pulling up a bit from the back of the last with me. He's toughed it out well. There is more room for improvement with his jumping, he's getting better.”

Mullins began training in 1988 and has been champion trainer in Ireland 16 times.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson