PUNTERS and beaten riders may have been kicking themselves on Sunday after perhaps underestimating Solness (6/1) again, as Joseph O’Brien’s charge made all under a trademark Danny Mullins ride in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

Solness was 28/1 when making all to win his first Grade 1 at the Christmas Festival, but many attributed it to the significant lead he gained under JJ Slevin, who has since been retained by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. That saw Danny Mullins take over at the Dublin Racing Festival, and the pair held a sizeable advantage on the back straight.

Their rivals appeared unperturbed by Solness’ lead, until Sean Flanagan urged Marine Nationale (9/2) to make headway from four out and eventually pressed Solness approaching the final flight. The longtime leader had more in the tank, though, and stayed on well on the run-in to score by two lengths. The lacklustre 6/4 favourite Gaelic Warrior stayed on to take third, beaten a total of 14 lengths, with another 10 lengths back to Quilixios in fourth.

"He jumped brilliantly," Joseph O'Brien noted after the race. "I thought what he did from the last to the line showed real tenacity because he was there to be shot at the whole way.

"He has a will to win, Danny got a breather into him between the third-last and the second-last and that was probably the winning of the race in the end.

"I could see him running big race in the Champion Chase. He’ll jump and go and they’ll have to come and get to him to beat him." On who would ride the Bronsan Racing-owned bay at Cheltenham, the trainer replied: "It will all depend on availability. If J J is available he’ll ride him, if Danny is available he’ll ride him and if neither of them is available, somebody else will ride him!”

Danny Mullins credited Joseph O’Brien after the win, saying: “It’s all down to Joseph. They went to the Tingle Creek, and what was learnt from that was executed brilliantly by JJ the last day. All I had to do was back it up today.

“He's a top horse and deserves his credit. My lad, to be fair, he was tough. Not many can maintain that at Leopardstown, and he did”

Danny Mullins was completing a double on the day, having paired up with cousin Emmet to win the opening listed race run in memory of their grandparents, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle. Vischio was having her first run for the yard and owners Syndicates Racing, having been bought by Jack Cantillon for €52,000 at the Goffs November Sale.

Danny, unfortunately, experienced the other side of racing on what was his most exciting ride of the weekend, if not the year. He made the running aboard Lossiemouth (4/6f) in the Irish Champion Hurdle, closely tracked by State Man (Paul Townend), but brought gasps from the crowd when crashing out at the sixth flight.

Lossiemouth appeared fine as she trotted away, while Mullins was thankfully fit to ride in the next race. His cousin Emmet celebrated a notable double on the day when the JP McManus-owned McLaurey justified 3/1 favouritism in the Listed Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle.