Uncle Junior spoils the Garde Champetre party

UNCLE Junior (9-2) prevented what would have undoubtedly been the most popular result of the afternoon by beating Garde Champetre in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

Garde Champetre was looking for his sixth victory over the course and went off the 10-11 favourite but lost vital ground when slipping entering the home straight.

He managed to recover and get back into the race, but Uncle Junior, a newcomer to the niche discipline for Willie Mullins, had a little extra up his sleeve and won by two and a quarter lengths.