AES CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE (Grade 1)

A LONG-running battle for supremacy in the Irish juvenile division came to a close as Bapaume bested old rival Mega Fortune for the third time this season to put the seal on a 10th consecutive trainer’s title for Willie Mullins.

For quite some time, Bapaume and Mega Fortune had held sway at the head of the juvenile division in Ireland and this was their fifth meeting of the campaign.

In a Leopardstown Grade 1 in February and at Cheltenham, Mega Fortune held the upper hand but roles were reversed this time as Bapaume became his trainer’s eighth winner of the meeting.

Ruby Walsh, who was going in search of his first Grade 1 victory of the week, was content to stalk his old opponent from an early stage.

Mega Fortune went for his race approaching the straight but poised in his slipstream was Bapaume and that one pounced nearing the last flight.

Bapaume (2/1) cleared the last in fine style and then stuck to his task gamely on the run in to hold off Landofhopeandglory who had beaten both of the main protagonists earier in the season.

At the line, a length and a quarter separated the front pair with a back-to-form Meri Devie taking third from Mega Fortune.

“I think we got the tactics right. We knew that Mega Fortune would be hard to beat but our horse has held his form very well all season,” declared Mullins, who trains the son of Turtle Bowl for Susannah Ricci.

“I’d imagine that we will be looking at keeping him over hurdles for next season. It’s often tough for horses in their second season over hurdles but we’ll see.

“I think we might look at going to France next with Bapaume while we might give Meri Devie the summer off. I think with a summer behind her she could just mature into a very nice mare for next season.”