See also » Champs-wins-Hennessy-for-that-man-Mullins
we were hoping he would do that at Christmas but his jumping errors left him too far out of the race at the second last. He got his jumping right today and probably the drier ground helped, plus there was only four runners and the one ahead of him (stablemate Quel Esprit) gave him a good lead. I thought he got low at the early fences and I thought to myself that he would have to improve, which he did. Davy was very good on him . he inserted pace four out when he looked around and saw that Flemenstar was going so well. He had to do that to win and make a staying race of it. The further he was going, I thought the better he was going. I was worried early on had Quel Esprit gone fast enough, even for himself as he is a galloper, and needs plenty of pace. Paul (Townend, jockey) reported that he blew up and that he is now really coming back to himself. W P Mullins, trainer

A steeplechase for five yrs old and upwards
Weights - 5-y-o 10st 13lb; 6-y-o and up 11st 10lb; Mares allowed 7lb