Uncle Junior (number 1, purple & yellow) in action in the La Touche
(Healy Racing Photos)

Lydon House looked like he'd done enough on the run-in after he'd fended off Tally Em Up but under a brilliant waiting ride Uncle Junior arrived to just deny him after humping around the welter burden of twelve stone seven (conceding weight all round).

Patrick Mullins said: "The horse made my job very easy. I thought I mightn't have got there when he jumped in behind the grey (Tally Em Up) at the last. He's a horse that wants to win though – it's just unbelievable."

Willie Mullins trains Uncle Junior and he remarked: "That was an exceptional performance under twelve stone seven on ground he doesn't like.

"He loved the trip – that was all important – he loves extreme distances.

"It took him about six runs to win a hurdle and he wasn't a great jumper of fences but the banks seem to have brought out the best in him.

"Patrick did fantastic to get him up and he is riding well at the moment.

"I had written him off about three times during the race and he only had three behind him at the double bank.

"I thought how is he going to pass eighteen horses with twelve stone seven but he rode him with great confidence.

"My father won it in 1953 but I never won it myself. It's about time we got it back and it's a great race for any amateur to win and I wish I'd won it myself.

"This horse might go to France for the big cross-country out there now." (GC & EM)