Captain Cody keeps up the gallop for Jody Townend © Photo Healy Racing
The jockeys on Willie Mullins' market leaders in the bumper at Limerick held differing views on where to race on the track, and it was Jody Townend's Captain Cody who came home best.
Townend hugged the inner on her mount while Patrick Mullins stayed as wide as possible on 1/2 favourite Blizzard Of Oz
The race boiled down to a match in the straight as they moved clear of an under-pressure One Big Bang
Captain Cody held the initiative but Blizzard Of Oz looked poised to reel him in, however, when push came to shove, Captain Cody was tough off the front and Blizzard Of Oz couldn't make any impression on him.
Captain Cody (5/2) kept up the gallop to beat his stablemate by six and a half lengths.
This confirmed Captain Cody's superiority over Blizzard Of Oz as he was three-parts of a length in front of him when they were second and third respectively at Punchestown in December.
Townend said: "My fellow beat Blizzard Of Oz the last day but Paddy (Mullins) was still quite confident to stick with him. He thought he would come on from it, but I thought my horse would too and was definitely sharper today.
"He galloped the whole way to the line today and definitely has improved."
This gave Willie Mullins a double on the card as Paul Marvel earlier took the maiden hurdle for colts and geldings.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
