Punchestown Festival: Feronily wins under bold ride from Donagh Meyler

Emmet Mullins dealt his uncle Willie a rare reverse on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, as Feronily refused to bend in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.

The champion trainer had saddled four of the first five winners on the card, with a couple of one-twos, a one-two-three and a one-two-three-four thrown in for good measure.

Having won the first two Grade Ones of the afternoon with Facile Vega and Energumene, the master of Closutton saddled four of the six runners in a bid to bag another top-level prize - but was ultimately beaten by his nephew and neighbour.

With Henry de Bromhead's 9-4 favourite Journey With Me falling in the back straight, it was just a question of which Mullins would win before the home turn, with 7-1 shot Feronily leading the way under a bold ride from Donagh Meyler.

Appreciate It - looking to give Paul Townend a Grade One treble on the card - emerged as the biggest threat between the final two fences, but Feronily was not for catching and stuck to his task gamely on the run-in to score by a length and three-quarters.

James Du Berlais and Classic Getaway finished third and fourth, while Sir Gerhard was pulled up.

While Emmet Mullins is no stranger to big-race success, having most notably saddled Noble Yeats to win last year's Grand National at Aintree, Feronily was giving him his first Grade One winner.

He said: "We bought him last November as a five-year-old and people said he was too old. We've run him in bumpers, hurdles and chases and he's won a Grade One and now he's a young horse again. It's funny how the wheel turns sometimes.

"He's progressing with each run and is an exciting horse to have. He's such a good jumper and what I saw in the point-to-point field was the reason we bought him. Jumping is his forte and we weren't going to waste time.

"I don't know where we go from here, but he's definitely a staying chaser."

Meyler was also enjoying his first Grade One victory.

He said: "I just can't believe it to be honest with you, it's kind of been a monkey on the back for a long time now. I'm over the moon.

"He's had an unusual prep, but you'd be a foolish man second-guessing Emmet Mullins!"

"He's a fantastic horse, well bought, and it's great to ride a Grade One winner for Emmet and Paul Byrne (owner) as well."