Meetingofthewaters and Brian Hayes win the I N H Stallion Owners EBF Beginners Steeplechase Healy Racing Photo© Photo Healy Racing
Meetingofthewaters completed a double on the card for trainer Willie Mullins when landing a sizeable gamble in the concluding I.N.H. Stallion Owners Beginners Chase at Cork.
Available at 8/1 early doors, the six-year-old, who carried the colours of Patrick Mullins, was backed at all prices down to evens.
Winner of a handicap hurdle at Cork for former trainer Eugene O'Sullivan last December, he had also won his bumper and a point-to-point before running under rules.
Making just his third start over fences this afternoon, the Court Cave gelding raced prominently throughout as Ideal Du Tabert went into a clear lead.
Closing up in pursuit after four out, the eventual winner made a mistake at the next but was soon back on the bridle, coming clear from the penultimate fence to win readily by five-and-a-half lengths.
Brian Hayes said: "Patrick (Mullins, owner) owns this fella and told me he really fancied him so I checked with Philip (Fenton, trainer of unplaced Japers Jack and he said it was ok to swap.
"Paddy thought he'd win, he had been working well and was confident coming back to a 0-116 beginners, which was a big drop in class. He was confident enough he'd do the business.
"I was behind the leader Ideal Du Tabert but I had a look behind and the others were a long way behind. I knew it was an exaggerated gap and I was happy I'd pick up the leader. He had a small scare at the last, that was all.
"I think he is entered in the (Paddy Power Chase, at Christmas) but this was a 0-116 at the end of the day."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
