Lecky Watson was a surprise 20/1 winner of the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.
In a seven-runner field, with all horses trained in Ireland, Willie Mullins was represented by four, including the eventual winner.
When race favourite Ballyburn (4/7) made an error early in the race, the former leading novice hurdler was never in serious contention from then on.
Though the Gigginstown Stud-owned Stellar Story (22/1) and Danny Gilligan eventually gave Lecky Watson most to do, the latter still had four lengths in hand at the line.
Better Days Ahead (13/2), trained like the runner-up by Gordon Elliott, was a head further back in third place under Jack Kennedy.
