MIN the merciless secured back-to-back victories in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite saw them all off from the front under Paul Townend – but it wasn’t without the odd scare.
The eight-year-old produced a few hair-raising leaps, but he still travelled strongly as the classy field rounded the home turn.
Presenting Percy, friendless in the betting and having his first run since finishing eighth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, crept eye-catchingly into contention.
But the main threat to the 8-11 jolly came from Hardline, who moved into a narrow lead between the final two fences.
However, Min rolled up his sleeves and rallied to lead with a massive jump at the last before galloping away strongly in the final 100 yards to win by two and a quarter lengths. Presenting Percy shaped well enough back in third.
Mullins said: “I thought it was an unbelievable performance coming after three mistakes. I think he wanted to go faster, but it’s hard to judge what is happening in that wind.
“To come back from what I thought was certain defeat after the second-last was very good. He picked up and threw a huge leap at the last and was going away after the last.
“I hadn’t thought beyond today and don’t have any plan for him. The jump at the last just shows what he had in the tank and that sealed it for him.
“I think he can jump way better than that and can improve from that run. He can go over two miles or two and a half.”
Min is now a top-price 6-1 for the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival.
