Ukraine Appeal National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

AS expected the day one finale turned into a shoot-out between Stattler and Run Wild Fred with the former emerging victorious to credit Willie and Patrick Mullins their third victory together in this race.

A fifth winner at this meeting for Patrick Mullins, Stattler came here off a gritty success in a Naas Grade 3 in late January and he coped splendidly with the step-up to three and a quarter miles to win with authority. For winning owner Ronnie Bartlett Stattler was a second consecutive winner of this race and his third in all following Rathvinden in 2018 and Galvin last year.

Rhythm

With just six runners turning out for this year’s race, drama was kept to a minimum as Run Wild Fred cut out the running from an early stage and got into a nice rhythm.

However, Stattler (2/1) was a menacing presence in behind from a long way out and Run Wild Fred couldn’t go with his rival when Patrick Mullins conjured a good jump from his mount to strike the front at the second last.

At the line Stattler had eight lengths to spare while there was a further 22 lengths back to last year’s Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier.

“I thought Patrick was very cool out there. My nerves were in bits going round but Patrick just got him into a rhythm, got him jumping and produced him at the right time,” declared the trainer. “I thought coming round the last bend, when he couldn’t put it to bed before the last bend, that we might be in trouble, but he got him round the bend, aimed him at the second last and it just happened. He jumped very well and Patrick got the horse to do the work. The horse is a very good jumper and I think that’s why Patrick nominated him for this race early in the season.”