Joystick upsets hot favourite in beginners chase Brian Hayes completed a 143/1 double after Joystick got the better of hot favourite Slade Steel on the run-in to land the QuinnBet Beginners Chase at Navan. The Willie Mullins-trained grey gelding made most of the running in this three-mile event but was joined by 8/15 favourite Slade Steel early in the straight. The pair came clear of their rivals, but it was the 16/1 chance that proved the stronger on the run-in and kept on well in the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths. There was a gap of 21 lengths back to Patter Merchant in third. Brian Hayes said: "His first run in Fairyhouse was brilliant, but then behind Kaid D'authie the last day he ran bad. I didn't know what to think today, but I was hoping if he came back to that kind of form with it being his third run and three miles, a lot of them mightn't want it. "I got a lovely time in front, jumped from fence to fence, and got an easy enough time of it. When Darragh (O'Keeffe, on Slade Steel) came past me at the second-last, I thought maybe he had me, but I kept picking up and picking up and he was a good winner at the line. "These (Ricci) colours used to be very good to me with Willie and I've had a bit of luck with them, so hopefully it will continue.” On the good recent form of the Mullins yard, he added “I was just saying to someone the other day, he has such high standards. If he doesn't have a day with a winner, people are giving out. He has such a high standard now, everyone expects him to win all the races." Hayes was on the mark earlier aboard Zaroosh (15/2) in the featured 2m4f handicap hurdle. Quotes by Michael Graham
