Sizing Australia retained the Irish Field Chase over the banks course in Punchestown after a battle with 7/4 favourite Be Positive

He was only half the odds of last year’s success – 6/1 – but once again proved himself adept over the obstacles.

Be Positive was backed before racing from 5/2 to 7/4 and his backers saw him race in the front rank throughout. However, Sizing Australia travelled well into fourth place coming to the third last. He joined Be Positive jumping the last and kept on to be a neck up at the line with Andrew Lynch in the plate. Theroadtocroker was three and a quarter lengths away in third at 14/1.

Handler Henry de Bromhead said: “He loves it and Andrew gave him one of the best rides that he has given one of my horses ever. This horse and Sizing Europe both won in Cheltenham in 2011 and now they’ve both won as 12-year-olds.These cross country horses can go on for a long time.”

As regards Sizing Australia and Sizing Europe staying in training de Bromhead said: “We’ll discuss all the horses with Alan and Ann over the next few weeks and we’ll see what the horses are telling us. Sizing Europe came back with a little nick after the race on Tuesday, but otherwise he’s full of himself.”

Jockey Andrew Lynch added: “He loves it round the banks. He comes alive when jumping round different jumps. As a 12-year-old he’s getting a bit cute, but he had plenty left.”

Danny Mullins gave up his ride on Too Late To Sell in the next race after taking a fall from Star Neuville

Additional reporting by Alan Magee