Drama aplenty as Mullins & Townend double-up with Pont

There was drama aplenty in the Vinegar Hill Beginners Chase, with Pont Aven eventually coming home an easy winner, providing Paul Townend and Willie Mullins with a double on the card.

Three of the six strong field didn’t make it past the first. Westland Row was the first to go, unseating on the approach, while Baily Gorse was hampered and also unseated. Sizing Joshua unshipped his rider independently in rear.

Pont Aven (9/10fav), who was having his first start over fences, done well to avoid the drama and was settled behind the leaders, improving to the front at the eighth.

Approaching two out, Townend had to manoeuvre his mount to avoid the loose Sizing Joshua who turned around to meet the field.

Thankfully that Mouse Morris trained stayed out of harm's way, with Pont Aven soon stretching clear, coming home twenty-eight lengths to the good. The Mulcare Rover (9/1) finished second, while Drimsree Lad (66/1) was four and a half lengths back in third and last.

Townend said: "He is honest anyway because for a whole circuit he didn't get to look at a jump and he kept jumping through. The fences were the easiest part, navigating through the loose horses was the hardest part.

"I saw the loose one coming at me turning into the straight and I just thought he is going to turn at some stage. It was a matter of whether I took a pull and went outside or inside, so it was a game of chicken for a little while. I had the horse to get through so it was fine."

Mullins and Townend had earlier scored with Great White Shark