Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh's bid for a treble with 4/7 shot Cousin Vinny in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginnners Chase came unstuck when he could only manage third behind An Cathaoir Mor and Nicanor

Cousin Vinny made the running but he was a bit slow in his jumping once or twice and he was eventually headed at the last. From there on Nicanor and An Cathaoir Mor fought out a tremendous duel with the latter just prevailing by the minimum margin.

He had travelled supremely well to launch his challenge, David Casey only asking him for full effort on the run-in.

Henry de Bromhead, the winning trainer said: "He likes to be dropped on the line so I said to David even before the result was called that it was a brilliant ride, even though it wasn't good for my heart. He is in the Arkle at Leopardstown next Sunday and as he takes his racing very well he could go there.

"If not it could be the Flyingbolt at Navan that he'd go for next. Sizing Europe is probably not going to go for the Arkle at Leopardstown and he'll probably now go straight to Cheltenham."