WHAT promised to be the race of the day turned into an utterly one-sided affair but this does nothing to detract from a hugely impressive chasing debut from the Willie Mullins-trained Unexcepted in the beginners’ chase over an extended two miles.

Beforehand this race represented a fascinating clash between the winner and last season’s high-class novice hurdler Captain Guinness (4/6) but the latter was pulled up shortly after heading out on the final circuit and was reported to be clinically abnormal post race. At this stage Unexcepted, a half-brother to Great Field, held a clear lead following a dashing round of jumping and it was more of the same throughout the final mile.