Capodanno (right) beats Embrun Mitja © Photo Healy Racing
There was plenty of drama in the Get A Run For Your Money With BetVictor Beginners Chase with Capodanno (4/1) coming out on top in the end under Jody McGarvey.
After Hawai Games in the opener, this was another winner that intended jockey Mark Walsh missed out on after hurting his wrist this morning.
The Manduro gelding, an impressive winner of a Punchestown Festival handicap hurdle on his previous outing in April, was getting into contention when making a bad blunder at the second-last but managed to recover well enough to pick up the leaders on the run-in.
He collared long-time leader Embrun Mitja (18/1) in the final hundred yards to win by a snug length and a quarter with his stablemate Gaillard Du Mesnil (4/11 fav) another three quarters of a length back in third having had every chance. Indiana Jones was still in with a shout when taking a heavy fall at the last.
Paddy Power make Capodanno a 14/1 chance, from 25s, for the Festival Novices' Chase.
After Hawai Games and Brandy Love this was a third success of the meeting for winning trainer Willie Mullins who said: “It was a tremendous performance after making a mistake at the second last, to do what he did against what looked like a very good beginners chase field.
“He seems like he's going to be a much better chaser than hurdler.”
On Gaillard Du Mesnil he added:- “He was a little disappointing and he might have just needed the run. He'll come on from that.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
