There was an upset in the Joseph Memorial Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse with Annamix storming home late under Charlie Mullins to beat stablemate Billaway by four and half lengths.
The two market principles Ferns Lock and Billaway set a strong pace in front, the grey Annamix was raced in rear for most and was outpaced and trailing the field five fences from home.
The Susannah Ricci owned gelding mounted his challenge travelling well approaching the straight, the Willie Mullins trained individual was soon a close third two out and kept on well under pressure to lead on the run-in and deny Billaway by a running away four and half lengths with the short priced favourite Ferns Lock having to settle for third.
A delighted Charlie Mullins remarked afterwards: ‘He wasn’t travelling as well as he did in Gowran, even though I was off it there too. I was out the back just trying to fill up everything for the last two or three. I learnt from Gowran that you can’t let him go to early as he will make a mistake or two and he did when he fell in Gowran at the last.’
‘So I was just biding my time a bit more today and I knew they would all come back to me in that ground. It’s very tacky, it’s fairly hard to stay going at that pace in Fairyhouse.’
‘He is a right leper but can take off from anywhere, he would rather be going a stride quicker when it comes to jumping. He is a brilliant jumper, at home down the strip he goes a nice gallop the whole way and jumps every single one of them, I was being safe with him today.’
‘I knew coming to the last, I thought I’d win that the two in front didn’t have another gear in them after going so hard, they were coming back to me and I had bit extra in the tank.’
%uD83D%uDC40 This is an absolutely incredible win by Annamix
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 8, 2023
Tailed off at one stage under Charlie Mullins, the pair come from nowhere to see off Billaway & Ferns Lock in the Hunters Chase@WillieMullinsNH | @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/LDxIZCnN3W
