FOR the fourth time in five years, Willie Mullins carried off the Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase as Cut The Mustard justified 1/3 favouritism after surviving one notable scare.

At the third fence, Tintangle looked as if she might run out and this manoeuvre had an unsettling effect on Cut The Mustard who briefly went to follow suit but she safely negotiated that fence and thereafter Paul Townend’s mount was untroubled as she moved into a clear lead.