THE afternoon had begun with a 33/1 shaker for punters as Jennie Candlish’s bottom-weight Party Rock came clear to beat Champagne At Tara in the Grade 3 Alder Hey Children’s Charity Handicap Hurdle.

Party Rock fell when holding every chance two years ago and finished sixth in the race last year.

He was ridden by Sean Quinlan, who needed a high-profile success with his career merely drifting along.

The 7/1 co-favourite Starchitect saved plenty of each-way money in third with Sky Khan claiming fourth.

MULLINS AND BACARDYS

An afternoon which had brought one major setback and another acute disappointment ended happily for Willie Mullins as Bacardys (15/2) took the closing Weatherbys Private Bank Champion bumper. In just outpointing his stable-companion Battleford he was reversing Cheltenham form with that one and Twiston-Davies’ Ballyandy, whilst also carrying the trainer even closer to a first British title.

The victory was also swift recompense for Patrick Mullins, so unfortunate on Bellshill.