Only By Night too strong for Mullins pair in Tipperary

The Gavin Cromwell trained Only By Night made an impressive winning debut over fences when proving too strong for a pair of well fancied opponents in the Tipperary Beginners Chase.

Willie Mullins had a strong hand in the race, saddling both the odds-on Mirazur West and joint second favourite Westport Cove

However, it was the other joint second favourite Only By Night who proved the strongest of the leading trio when the race got serious after two out.

For much of the second circuit, the contest looked to revolve around the Mullins duo as they went head-to-head up front.

Turning into the home straight nothing separated the two, as Keith Donoghue pushed along on Only By Night back in third.

However, everything changed approaching the last, as Only By Night came through between horses to quicken up impressively to win by six-and-a-half lengths.

Gavin Cromwell said: "She jumped brilliant and is very good to jump although I thought we were in bother going along the side but she found plenty for pressure. I'm delighted with her.

"We won't lose the run of ourselves but it was a good performance and she will go further too. There is a nice programme for mares here and she could also travel to the UK too so we'll see."

Paddy Power introduced Only By Night into the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at 25/1.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.