Annamix picked up his second success of the season as he recorded a battling victory in the Michael Linehan Heart Safe Hunter Chase at Killarney on Monday evening.
Sent off as the easy-to-back 6/4 favourite, the 10-year-old had taken a notable step forward at Fairyhouse when a surprise winner of their Easter Hunter Chase following a slow start to the campaign.
He had come from an unlikely position at the Meath venue when beating the likes of Billaway and Fern’s Lock and would likely have finished in the money at Punchestown in the Champion Hunter Chase, only to be pulled up having been badly hampered three out.
With his sights lowered at Killarney the grey was confidently handled with Patrick Mullins taking over from his cousin in the saddle.
Regular front runner Nice To Meet and the hunter chase debutant Somptueux cut out the early running at a strong pace, but it was one that the latter, who was sent off as the second favourite, was unable to sustain.
The eight-year-old came under pressure three-out as Nice To Meet stroke on, and it was Mikey O’Connor’s mount who proved to be a stern rival for the favourite.
Neck and neck approaching the final fence, it was only halfway up the run-in that the grey, who had finished third in last year’s Topham Chase, was able to stick his head in front to prevail by a short head.
The hat-trick seeking 15-year-old was 19 lengths adrift of the front pair in third with Somptueux fading into fourth.
After the race, Mullins indicated that the Aintree Foxhunters would be the aim for next season after he failed to get qualified in time for the 2023 edition of that race, and the favourite never had any fear of the result being overturned as the stewards held an enquiry into possible interference in the final quarter of a mile.
