Ballycasey fires for Willie Mullins to take Gowran spoils
Ballycasey led his rivals a merry dance to secure Grade Two honours in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park.
The Willie Mullins-trained grey has been back to something like his best this summer, landing a decent handicap at Killarney and finishing third in the Galway Plate, but was only second-favourite here behind the high-class Road To Riches.
While the market leader ran in snatches towards the rear, Ballycasey bowled along happily in front in the hands of Ruby Walsh, jumping with confidence.
The 5-2 shot quickened away on the turn for home and went further clear down the straight without Walsh having to get too serious.
He crossed the line with 11 lengths in hand of Road To Riches, who stayed on when it was all over, with Devils Bride third.
Walsh said: "He's a pleasure to ride. He didn't stay in the Kerry National (last time out), but before that won well at Killarney and ran a cracker in the Galway Plate.
"He jumped like a buck, quickened clear off the hill and got them all at it.
"We thought he was very good at one stage. He's a Grade One winner and we tried to make him into a three-mile horse. He doesn't stay three miles and doesn't have the pace to be a top two-miler.
"Obviously he's a two-and-a-half-mile horse and he's got a bit of confidence from winning."
