Classic Getaway makes all in Thurles feature

Classic Getaway has been quite lightly raced since bought for £570,000 at Yorton Farm after winning his point-to-point three years ago but is starting to make up for lost time judged by a fine front-running success in the featured Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Chase at Thurles.

Willie Mullins had four of the six runners in the 2m6f Listed event was considered one of the outsiders at 15/2 with Paul Townend’s mount Haut En Couleurs sent off the 6/4 favourite.

Danny Mullins elected to make the running on the Cheveley Park-owned gelding and had both French Dynamite and the favourite stretched entering the straight after that pair made slight mistakes three out and two out respectively.

Classic Getaway kept on strongly in the straight and had five and a half lengths to spare at the line over Haut En Couleurs with French Dynamite another six and a half lengths back in third.

Danny Mullins said, "If you look at his form it reads very well and he turned over a hotpot this time last year in Gowran. He missed most of the season and came back to run with credit at Punchestown.

"We were hoping he could do something like that and he always promised but is thankfully starting to deliver. His jumping is so good and he probably wasn't getting that advantage over hurdles.

"For a horse of his size he has great agility and with that size, maybe he was that bit weak early in his career. We took a few nice scalps there and hopefully it is on towards Christmas now and find another spot for him."

Haut En Couleurs was found to be lame post-race and Paul Townend later reported: "Crossing the line I eased him back and thought he took a lame step or two so got off him. I haven't heard anything since but maybe that was an excuse for him (being beaten)."

Quotes by Tom Weekes