Willie Mullins landed the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown but not with the one that most would have expected as Salvator Mundi took advantage of the fall of hot favourite Kopek Des Bordes

The 4/11 chance headed the front-running Irish Panther entering the straight and was about two lengths in front when jumping left and falling at the penultimate fence.

Salvator Mundi struck the front approaching the last and kept on strongly on the run-in to beat Irish Panther by 12 lengths.

There was a big gap of 30 lengths back in Jacob’s Ladder in third.

Mullins said, “He’s a good horse in his own right. He was right on the premises; it wasn’t as if he was 20 lengths behind and picked up the pieces. He was going to be involved in the finish.

“If Kopek had made a mistake there and got away with it, yer man was right on his tail.

“He’s always been a good horse, but things just haven’t gone right for him. It’s nice to get a big race like that with him. He won in Aintree last year and he’s no back number.

“He probably needs nice ground, and is probably more of a spring horse than a real winter horse.

“I’m delighted for Marie and Joe Donnelly. They’ve had a disappointing season but now they have Kitzbuhel and this fella winning.”

On Kopek Des Bordes he added, “He probably just lost his concentration going to the fence, without horses around him to keep him focused.

“He appeared to take off but never put out his landing gear and landed on his knees. I think both horse and rider were very lucky. They seem to be alright, fingers crossed they are.”

Cobden said, “Potentially a fortunate one but if you’re not in it you can’t win it.

“Thanks to Willie for letting me ride him and these colours have been very lucky for me.

“He jumped particularly well and when you get into a nice rhythm around here, he was meeting them on a lovely stride.”

Quotes by Gary Carson