Uncle Junior (no.13) and Patrick Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Uncle Junior and Patrick Mullins captured the historic FBD Cross Country Chase for the La Touche Cup for the second time at Punchestown at the tender age of 14.
Three years after his initial success in this 4m1f event, the longest race on the Irish calendar, the 6/1 chance just got up on the line to touch off the 13/8 favourite Quantitativeeasing
The second last of the 35 obstacles proved crucial as the always prominent Ballyboker Bridge fell and brought down the well-backed 10/1 chance Josies Orders
Mullins really galvanised the veteran on the run-in and he stayed on best to prevail by a neck, with Keep On Track a further 16 lengths away in third.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, "He's some hero in our yard. At 14 to run a race like that is fantastic.
"He always makes one bad mistake and hadn't throughout so I said coming to the last here it comes but he only lost half a length.
"He appreciates the drier ground and the sun on his back. Normally he drops out and it takes three-and-a-half miles for him to warm up but today after half a mile I was hopeful he'd run a big race.
"You saw Patrick after passing the winning post. He really enjoyed it and he's a fantastic horse to have in the yard.
"When he started out he couldn't jump and lost four or five hurdle races but he's made of iron and keeps going. Luke kept him in training and gave him time and it worked out.
"There is no talk of retirement as he's in good form and there are those type of races for him. I can't see the point of putting him out in a field as he gets bored.
"A horse like him is entertainment and he certainly gave us entertainment today.
"Enda (Bolger) was the first man to congratulate me and it was fantastic after 4m1f to have a race like that."
(GC & AM)
