Rule Supreme struck for the Irish on St Patrick's Day at Cheltenham 2004 by springing a 25-1 surprise in an eventful Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Given a patient ride by David Casey, Willie Mullins' charge held Royal Emperor up the hill by one and a quarter lengths, with 11-8 favourite Our Vic two lengths further away third.
The winner's stablemate Mossy Green made the running and was still in front when
Calling Brave, who was going well, made a bad mistake at the fourth-last fence,
catapulting Mick Fitzgerald out of the saddle.
Mossy Green himself came down at the penultimate obstacle, bringing down the
fancied Pizarro, who was still in with a shout.
Our Vic looked like landing the spoils but he had nothing else to give after
the last.
"I just said to David 'hunt around and if you're still there at the
second-last, have a go'. He rode a beautiful race," Mullins said.
Casey added: "He's a very good horse and has a good engine, he's just not a
natural over fences. They went a good gallop and I knew he'd come home well.
"I was just hoping he would be there at the second or third-last. He didn't
travel great early on, they were going too quick for him. But I knew he'd come
home and I was confident we would be there or thereabouts."
Mullins went on to reveal plans for the winner.
He said: "He'll go to Punchestown, then the French Champion Hurdle, and then
we are going to have a think.
"He may not have the scope to win a Gold Cup, so we may consider coming back
for the Stayers' Hurdle."
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