3 minute read

Rockyaboya ran out the short-head winner of an ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase that saw Tony McCoy on Cause Of Causes and Ruby Walsh on the winner engage in an epic tussle from the last

McCoy conjured up a stirring run on the 6-1 favourite, but it was Walsh and 7-1 chance Rockyaboya who just held on.

Ipsos Du Berlais was third with Victrix Gale in fourth.

The win was a welcome change of luck for Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins, the pair having experienced some high-profile reverses at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.

As many as six of the 28 runners were in with a chance approaching the last, and for a moment it looked as if Canaly, who led the field into the home straight, was going as well as any.

However, the Dessie Hughes-trained eight-year-old weakened after the last as the rallying Cause Of Causes under the strong McCoy drive loomed into view.

But Walsh and Rockyaboya denied McCoy and owner JP McManus a second consecutive win in the race following Colbert Station last year.

Mullins said: "It's a race that hasn't been a lucky one for us but this fellow was a little unusual in that he was unexposed over fences.

"I thought having Ruby [Walsh] ride one of ours at the bottom of the handicap at 10-3 was a huge advantage."