Immediate Response (right) & Crash rise for a fence at the top of the track© Photo Healy Racing
Immediate Response held off the late challenge of Rubert to take the Suir Valley Chase under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
The 10yo son of Strategic Choice, who has now won five of his last seven starts, was sent off the 4/6 favourite.
He tracked the leaders throughout and moved into a closer second at the second last (normally three out).
He hit the front before the straight and he asserted before the last. The Denis Cullen trained Rubert (12/1) under David Casey tried to chase him down on the run-in but it was too late as the winner kept on well to score by three parts of a length.
Willie Mullins said afterwards: "He is a lucky horse for Patrick who is five wins from six starts on him now.
"He seems to make improvement and he idled a bit in front today but he jumped well.
"We will try and find another race like this for him now and I might step him up to two mile six or three miles."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
