Meetingofthewaters, right, joins James Du Berlais at the last fence© Photo Healy Racing
Meetingofthewaters stayed on strongly to take the Listed Paddy Power Chase over the extended three miles in Leopardstown.
This brought up a nap hand of five winners across-the-cards for Willie Mullins today.
The 6/1 shot came wide in his pursuit of front-running stablemate James Du Berlais who put in a notable good round of jumping off the front.
Meetingofthewaters switched to the inner of James Du Berlais before the final fence as he continued his progress and was produced to join the leader in jumping it. It was far from Meetingofthewaters' best jump, but he led on the run-in and was driven clear in the closing stages to account for a staying-on Panda Boy (8/1) by four and a-half lengths. Real Steel came through for third at 28/1 from James Du Berlais (12/1) who dropped to fourth.
After winning his first Paddy Power, jockey Danny Mullins said: "Hopefully the first of many! Brilliant to get the job done. Patrick and Willie do a fantastic job with this lad.
"I got away nicely down to the first and ran a bit keen so normally in a Paddy Power you are trying to hold your slot, but today I was trying to tuck him back in, switch him off so that I would have petrol late on.
"The ground had changed from yesterday so the tactics we were thinking of last night were probably turned on their head by today. You just adjust and attack again.
"The last few days have been a little bit hit and miss in the results for me, but you have to perform when the pressure comes on most.
"I could see from when I crossed the road down the far side he (James Du Berlais) was within striking distance. I knew my lad had delivered with every jump I had asked for, so I was trying to keep my powder dry.
"As I passed Paul (Townend on Adamantly Chosen turning in, he said 'oh, you're going well!' I just said 'I don't know how much I have left'. In fairness to this lad, he hit the line very strong.
"He's not the biggest horse in the world, but he has got a huge heart and that makes all the difference."
Willie Mullins added: “It’s a fantastic result for Paul Byrne (owner). Patrick has a lot to do with (training) this fellow, but I think he was hoping he’d be more of a Kim Muir horse and that is gone out the window now.
“It’s great prize money and a tremendous prize to win with a horse like that.
“Paul is great at seeing gaps in the market when buying horses. He’s able to spot horses rather than paying big money.
“He has an eye for a horse and is able to put a deal together. He probably looks for horses in places that other people don’t.
“He won nicely in Cork and was a young horse improving all the time. It’s a bit of a lottery when you go into a race like this but when you get in at those weights its always worth having a crack.”
Paddy Power shortened Meetingofthewaters from 40/1 to 14/1 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Raceday Stewards interviewed C.P. McNamara, rider of Real Steel (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that he was in breach of Regulation 10 and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that C.P McNamara was in breach of Regulation 10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his record they suspended him for four race days.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
