Felix Yonger holds off Flemenstar in Tied Cottage thriller

Felix Yonger denied Flemenstar in a thrilling renewal of the BoyleSports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

Sent off the even-money favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained winner was content to race in behind what looked a generous pace set by stablemate Twinlight, who had Flemenstar and Days Hotel in close attendance through the early stages.

Flemenstar, who returned to winning ways when taking full advantage of Un De Sceaux’s Leopardstown fall at Christmas, jumped with his trademark panache when taking over at the head of affairs, and rider Andrew Lynch kicked for home off the final bend.

But Ruby Walsh had the move covered, with enough in the tank to prove the stronger by a length and three-quarters, although Flemenstar stuck to his guns admirably and was far from disgraced.

Walsh said: “He surprised me with the turn of foot he showed going to the last to go by Flemenstar, it was a good performance.

“I thought it rode a good race. I’d say the Champion Chase would be the place to go, he is a Grade One winner over two miles so it would look the obvious the thing to do.”

Mullins said: “Ruby said he’s still improving, and I’d imagine he’ll take up his entry in the Champion Chase.

“The other option is to go for the race in Japan that Blackstairmountain won, but I’ll have to talk with Graham Wylie. It’s very expensive to run in, but there is big prize-money.

“We always thought he was better on better ground, but he seems to be handling this ground. If he went to Japan that would rule out Cheltenham.”

Paddy Power and BoyleSports both went 14-1 from 20-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

It was a double on the day for Mullins as Balko Des Flos got his career back on track with a comfortable all-the-way victory in the Michael Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

Having won bumpers at Leopardstown and Sligo in the first half of last year, the five-year-old was unsurprisingly all the rage for his hurdling debut at Navan last month but was bitterly disappointing in finishing down the field.

Sent off the 11-8 favourite to right that wrong under Bryan Cooper, the five-year-old gradually wound up the gallop and had plenty in reserve as he passed the post three lengths clear of Robin Thyme.

Cooper said: “He could jump a bit better and was a bit green out in front, but he’s still immature and has only just turned five.

“He’s a grand horse for the future and he can go up in trip.”

Mullins suffered a short-priced reverse in the INH Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle as the previously unbeaten Myska proved a bitter disappointment.

Winner of each of her three starts including a Listed prize at Taunton, Myska was the 8-13 favourite to beat the boys for the first time, but jumped poorly and weakened rapidly from the home turn to finish last of five runners.

Victory went to Gordon Elliott's Ball D'Arc, completing a double for Cooper and owners Gigginstown House Stud.

Third behind red-hot Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Min at this track three weeks ago, the 9-2 chance showed a smart change of gear in the testing conditions to beat Mullins’s apparent second string Royal Caviar by three lengths.

“I thought he wanted a bit further, but it looks like two miles is his trip. He settled a bit better,” said Elliott.

“We won’t get too excited and will try to find something similar.”

Myska was found to be coughing on examination by the Turf Club veterinary officer after her disappointing run.

What looked a strong Pertemps Handicap Hurdle worked out that way in the race itself as 16-1 chance Rathpatrick sprouted wings to get up and beat Oscar Sam in the hands of Barry Geraghty.

Oscar Sam looked to have been produced to perfection going to the final flight, having been just in behind four horses jumping two out more or less in a line, with favourite Mall Dini going best of them.

All the while, however, Geraghty was stoking up the Eoin Griffin-trained winner and despite not jumping as well as he might have, there was no stopping his charge, with half a length the winning margin.

Griffin said: “He was coming back from a disappointing campaign over fences. He just didn’t take to them at all.

“He’d a nice run over hurdles the last day and seemed to come on from it. He loves heavy ground.

“He won’t get into the race at Cheltenham (Pertemps), but we’ll find something for him.”