Junior plays a leading role

Uncle Junior benefitted from a patient ride by Ruby Walsh to take the two and three quarter miles Wateford & Tramore Directors Chase.

The 7/4 chance turned out to be Walsh's only ride on the card after Riltree (lame) was earlier taken out of the mares maiden hurdle, and the champion was seen to good effect.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding made good ground from the rear to challenge approaching two out, and stayed on best from the last to beat Changing Course (9/1) by two and a half lengths with Knock On The Head five and a half lengths further back in third.

The ten-year-old gelding is owned by Madeline McMahon, and her son Luke said afterwards: “The man on top makes a big difference. He's been a great servant and that's his seventh win. Like a lot of Saddlers' Hall horses, nice ground suits him and, as long as it stays safe, we'll probably try to find another one or two for him.”