Living Next Door, near side, comes through to win© Photo Healy Racing
A patient ride from Denis O'€™Regan reaped massive dividends as Living Next Door stayed on best to scoop the valuable Grade B Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.
This win gave trainer Tony Martin, owner John Breslin and jockey O'Regan a double on the day as their Blair Perrone took race two on the card.
The 20/1 chance crept into the race and was going noticeably the best just behind the leaders coming to the last. Foxrock the well-backed 7/2 favourite, had his head in front after that fence, but once O'Regan asked for more from Living Next Door he responded and kept on stoutly to prevail by a length and three parts.
Foxrock in second was a head in front of Vics Canvas (14/1) with The Job Is Right (25/1) two lengths adrift in fourth.
Owner John Breslin said: "It's actually unbelievable. He was a bit unlucky in the Troytown. Fair play to Denis O'€™Regan he gave him the best ride I'€'ve seen in a long time. The horse jumps for joy, he'€™s a great horse."
Jockey Denis O'€™Regan commented: "I'm thrilled with how the day went, it was really unexpected. They went a good gallop early then steadied right up. Tony said to switch him off, pop away and ride him with plenty of confidence.
"I was confident turning in. I was hoping he would keep finding for me. He had a good enough run in the Troytown and was spot on today.
"I felt the ground wasn'€™t as cut up on the stands-side."
Trainer Tony Martin said: "These are the sort of races you like winning. You target them and it's wonderful that it ha€™s worked out.
"He gave an exhibition of jumping and never missed one. Every fence he made ground and (Denis) O'€™Regan gave him the ride of the year as far as I'€™m concerned. It was copybook stuff from Denis.
"He lacks a bit of oxygen after his races. It ha€™s happened before and we just need to get him away (from the parade ring) quickly. He'€™ll be alright.
"We'€™ll have a think about where we go next but he won'€™t be going anywhere for at least a month anyway.
"He had a very hard race in Cheltenham and it took him a long time to get over it."
Mark Walsh has a possible ankle injury after a fall from The Westener Boy
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
