Banbridge battles on best of all to land a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival.
Although missing the likes of star two-mile chasers Jonbon and El Fabiolo, the Grade 1 prize certainly didn't lack excitement as three classy horses fought out a thrilling finish to the opening day feature at Punchestown.
Mares' Chase runner-up Dinoblue was sent off a shade of odds against to give the Clossutton maestro Mullins a sixth successive victory in the event, and although she travelled well throughout under Mark Walsh, JP McManus' mare soon looked in trouble as Henry De Bromhead's Champion Chase hero Captain Guinness swept to the front in his bid to land the spoils.
It looked for all the world that Captain Guinness would complete a memorable Cheltenham and Punchestown double when Blackmore kicked clear between the final two flights and even with a handful of yards still to travel, it appeared Henry De Bromhead's 6/1 chance was going to hold on.
However, fellow 6/1 shot Banbridge had other ideas as he continued to edge closer under an all-action JJ Slevin, and with proven stamina over further and first-time cheekpieces in his armoury, the Joseph O'Brien-trained contender would go on to reel in Captain Guinness by the narrowest of margins.
"It was a fantastic race, a great two-mile chase, and a fantastic ride from JJ. I'm delighted for Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) and everyone to have a big winner here in Punchestown," said O'Brien of the winner, who was last seen finishing well-beaten on soft ground in the Ryanair Chase,
"It wasn't our day in Cheltenham, but we're delighted to win a big race here today. He's been a fantastic horse and Ronnie's patience through the autumn when the ground wasn't right for us was really what won the race for us today. We were ready to run and had to wait.
"We know what conditions the horse performs on, it's pretty obvious when you look at all his runs. On better ground, his runs are all very good – and when it gets softer, for whatever reason, he doesn't perform as well.
"We took the chance at Cheltenham because it's Cheltenham, but it didn't work out. We freshened him up to come here and I'm delighted to win a big race with him."
Bartlett added: "He's a great horse, it was a great race, and he was trained to perfection. It's going to be a quiet night tonight, early to bed! Two or three out, you were thinking he'd maybe be placed, but he showed some turn of foot over the last."
