SIMPLY Ned was awarded the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown after odds-on favourite and first-past-the-post Min was disqualified for causing significant interference.

The pair came extremely close together after jumping the last, with Nicky Richards' race regular Simply Ned going for a daring run up the rail under Mark Walsh.

Min, who had made virtually all the running, first appeared to bump Simply Ned not long after the last before again leaning on him with the winning post in sight. That clash forced Simply Ned into the rail, sending some pieces of plastic flying, and following a lengthy deliberation, the stewards opted to reverse the placings.

Min was sent off the 2/7 favourite for the two-mile-one-furlong heat but he had been forced to work hard to fend off Simply Ned, eventually passing the post with half a length to spare.

For 16/1 shot Simply Ned, it was a long-awaited triumph as, having placed in the last three renewals of this race, he finally enjoyed his day in the Grade 1 spotlight.

Walsh said: "You don't want to win a Grade 1 like that but I felt with a clear run I'd definitely have won. He (Min) impeded me the whole way up to the line. I jumped the last behind Paul (Townend, Min's jockey) but there was plenty of room.

"When the rail came, Paul started leaning on top of me and there was a significant bang quite close to the line. He broke the line and was impeded really badly.

"Fair play to connections, they kept bringing him for this and I must thank Davy Russell for getting me the ride."

Richards said: "The other horse clearly gave him a couple of bumps and the second one was a fairly hefty one. Mark came in and was adamant he would have won the race. The old horse was coming and I'd say justice has been done.

"Mark gave him an absolute peach of a ride. What a ride he gave him and he did absolutely everything he was asked. It will probably be the plan to come back here in February."

On winning a Grade 1 with Simply Ned, the Greystoke handler added: "It's took a bit of doing but we got there at the end of it.

"He's been a great horse and we bought him up the road at Fairyhouse. He cost €23,000 and was for nothing, really. He's been a great horse and very consistent at a high level. It's great that he's had his day at the top."

Whiskey Sour won an incredible renewal of the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Favourite Mengli Khan appeared to be dictating matters approaching the second-last until the Royal Bond winner dived through the wing and unseated Jack Kennedy.

That left Paul Townend in front on Real Steel, although he was joined by his stablemate Sharjah, whose rider Patrick Mullins appeared more confident than Townend, but once Mullins asked his mount for a big leap he took a crashing fall, while Real Steel also hit the deck independently.

Advertising Willie Mullins' strength in depth, yet another Closutton inmate picked up the pieces as dual Galway Festival winner Whiskey Sour (9/1) came home unchallenged under David Mullins.

BIG WEIGHT

Anibale Fly carried a big weight to provide JP McManus with another victory in the Grade B Paddy Power Chase.

Tony Martin's seven-year-old was a class act as a novice last season, chasing home Coney Island in the Drinmore. He had apparently lost his way since but had been running over trips short of his optimum and, back up to three miles, he defied a mark of 148 under Donagh Meyler.

As ever, there were plenty in with chances at the second-last as Vieux Morvan led them a merry dance. When he began to weaken, Anibale Fly (14/1) hit the front and was not to be denied.

The Gordon Elliott army chased him home, with Ucello Conti second, 4/1 favourite Squouateur third and Potters Point fourth.

Meyler said: "His form last year behind Disko and the like was very good. I know he had a lot of weight but class will out and he showed his class. One thing he does do is stay and he seemed to relish it."

Martin said: "He wants a proper trip. He's an old-fashioned staying horse and he jumped and galloped. This is what you get up every day for, to have days like this. It doesn't happen too often but when it does it's great.

"He's always been a very good horse but just luck didn't go his way.

"He was favourite for the Feltham last year, the race Might Bite ran in. I don't know what happened then, whether it was ground or trip or whatever.

"He won well for a competitive handicap. He's after going through the (handicap) roof there now and could be anything."

The day ended with a bumper which, as on St Stephen's Day here, was won by Willie and Patrick Mullins. Their representative Carefully Selected (3/1) raced clear in the closing stages to win in the manner of a high-class performer.

READ THE FULL LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD