File opens chasing account in style

Fact To File opened his account over fences in facile fashion in the beginners chase at Leopardstown, giving Willie Mullins a double on the card.

Last season's Cheltenham bumper runner-up had been second to American Mike on his chase debut at Navan last month and went to post a 4/6 shot this afternoon.

Mark Walsh tracked stablemate Minella Cocooner in the two-mile-five contest before sending his mount on at the third last.

The Poliglote gelding went clear over the penultimate fence and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post an easy 17-length success over Zanahiyr

“He has Cheltenham bumper form from last year. He looks like a chaser, he certainly looked like one there, so we decided to skip his novice hurdle year and just go straight chasing,” said Mullins.

“Today is the reason that I hoped we'd be right.

“He's a horse I've loved since the first day he came into the stable. I think he could go the whole way, with a bit of luck — you need a lot of luck in this game.”