Missed That (red jacket) stalks the leaders.

By

Missed That justified all the Irish confidence with a hard-fought victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Sporting the Violet O'Leary colours made famous by Florida Pearl, the six-year-old was giving trainer Willie Mullins his fifth winner in the race.

The 7-2 favourite led turning for home but had to pull out all the stops to hold De Soto by a neck. Rasharrow was third, with former champion Flat jockey Kieren Fallon fourth on Refinement.

Her brother Paul set the early pace on Clew Bay Cove from There Is No Doubt, but at the turn at the top of the hill there was a second casualty when The Mick Weston clipped the heels of another horse, forcing Richard Johnson out of the plate.

Manwhile Ruby Walsh was making smooth progress on Missed That and took him to the front on the final bend.

De Soto came out of the pack to throw down a strong challenge, but Missed That just managed to keep Paul Webber's four-year-old at bay.

"He pulled very hard but he has a bit of class," Mullins said.

"I'm not sure I said he's as good as Florida Pearl, but he has the potential to be. He is a good horse and he has proved it.

"We didn't think we'd be back in the winner's enclosure with the O'Learys so soon after Florida Pearl had retired, and it's all to look forward to now.

"On his last run in Naas he just stayed on up the hill, and I said to Ruby don't be afraid to go to the front and if something comes to him, he will battle.

"He put his head down and flew. He's grown up a lot in the last six months."

Walsh said: "He was very, very free and I was close to letting him go to the front halfway up the straight the first time, he was that free.

"I honestly thought at the top of the hill that I couldn't win, he'd been pulling so hard.

"Then he quickened up off the bend and he was brilliant all the way to the winning post."

He said: "She was a bit headstrong early on and I had to switch her off and we lost our position. She would have gone very close but for that. It was a rough race - these races always are, just like the Flat."

When asked if it had been a good day, he added with a smile: "It would have been had we won.

"If we could run the race again I would have had her handier and I think she would have won."