Dinoblue led home a one-two-three for trainer Willie Mullins and owner JP McManus in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown.
???? A dramatic renewal of the G1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase as Dinoblue leads home a JP McManus & @williemullinsnh 1-2-3 at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xJ2eYieavB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023
A field of five runners went to post for the Grade 1 contest, with Henry de Bromhead’s 6/4 favourite Captain Guinness the only outlier in an otherwise Closutton dominated line-up.
It was clear from a long way out that it was going to be a clean sweep for the champion trainer, with the market leader never able to get to grips with a strong pace and eventually pulled up by Rachael Blackmore in the back straight.
Gentleman De Mee was deployed in a front-running role, but he was a sitting duck at the top of the home straight, as stablemate Dinoblue moved into his slipstream under a motionless Mark Walsh.
Once given her head, the 9/4 shot soon pulled away and safely negotiated the final fence to score by seven and a half lengths.
Saint Roi was third, with the other Mullins runner Dysart Dynamo falling at the last.
“Gentleman De Mee set a great pace in front and jumped fantastic. I wondered at one stage would she (Dinoblue) be able to stay jumping with him but she held her jumping together,” said the trainer.
“When he took a blow, she kept galloping and she is improving all the time. I’m very happy with that.”
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