Favourite backers had to wait 16 races at this year's Punchestown Festival to find a winner and even then the glass is only half full as 7/2 joint favourite Dr Whizz took the Kildare Post Handicap Chase.
Tony McCoy's mount just struck the front as the front-running Echo Bob blundered at the second last and, while he was far from foot-perfect at the last, stayed on well to beat Coscorrig (7/1) by nine lengths with Battlefront (11/1) just a short-head away in third.
The other joint favourite Tawaag never got in a blow, and was last of the seven finishers.
Winning trainer Tom Mullins said: “He looked a winner going to the third last at Gowran last time but they have a famous saying that you don't win at Malachy's, which is a little house next to the course. He had to come here today and prove it.
"He's been very well the last few weeks and schooled well since Gowran. He's won by nine lengths so Mr O'Brien will probably have a good go at him but I'm delighted to have a Festival winner both for myself and JP.”
Alan Magee
