THE winner-of-one contest was won last year in taking fashion by the now Alan King-trained Madiba Passion but this year’s performance by Crossing Lines (7/4 – 6/4) was of a different class altogether. Having jumped really well throughout the contest, the Baltimore Stables Syndicate-owned gelding was brought to the head of affairs by Rob James before the third last and all he did was extend his advantage from that point.

It was by far the most impressive performance of the day and after the race, James Doyle, representing his sister Ellen, who also enjoyed a Borris House double, said: “He’s a lovely horse. We came here thinking plenty of him and I’m glad that he has delivered. We’ll see what happens now.”