MIN HITS THROTTLE TO POWER PAST RIVALS

MIN showed admirable battling qualities to make a winning return to action in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old was short of room approaching the second-last fence, but he answered Ruby Walsh’s call by bravely going through the tight gap to hit the front before the last.

The even-money favourite jumped it cleanly and galloped on resolutely to beat the Gordon Elliott-trained Shattered Love by a length and a half in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One feature.

Another Elliott inmate, The Storyteller, was third, with long-time leader Balko Des Flos fourth and Edwulf last of the five runners.

Mullins said: ‘Ruby was maybe a bit bold there, but he had to do what he had to do. It was good and the horse responded. He jumped brilliantly and I was very pleased with that.

‘I don’t mind going back to two at all, he pulled very hard in behind there today, and he has the speed for two. He’ll probably go back in trip for Christmas, but we’ll see what we have in his division.

Mullins is also looking forward to the rest of the campaign with Un De Sceaux after his flamboyant performer finished a highly-creditable second to Altior in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Un De Sceaux lost nothing in defeat as he went down by four lengths to Nicky Henderson’s ace. ‘I was very pleased with Un De Sceaux, he put in a fantastic performance,’ said Mullins. ‘I thought he couldn’t have done much better.’