Passe pounces late in Red Mills Chase Impaire Et Passe found another gear on the run-in to claim the spoils in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park, giving Willie Mullins a fifth straight success in the Grade 2 prize. Paul Townend watched on from the rear on the 4/9 shot, for most of the two-mile-three trip, before taking closer order over the third last. His mount wasn’t fluent at the penultimate fence and Sa Fureur nicked a few lengths in the lead. Impaire Et Passe really started to motor after the last, however, and got on top in the closing stages for a length-and-a-quarter success. The five-time Grade 1 winner was making his seasonal debut, having last been seen at Punchestown last April, when brought down in top level company. Townend, who was recording a treble on the card, said:- "It was always going to be a tactical race and it was just a case of when the others would pull the trigger (pace-wise). I was in the wrong position but luckily was on the best horse. "He was good and brave at the second-last when we were trapping on and he was the class horse of the race. He had won five Grade 1s so it is no secret how good he is." Paddy Power made the winner a 6/1 shot (from 8/1) for the Ryanair Chase and a 40/1 shot for the Grand National. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
