No Gold Cup clues as Don Poli scrapes home to give Willie Mullins first win in Lexus Chase

The Lexus Chase, the feature on day three of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, may have done little to help solve the Cheltenham Gold Cup conundrum but it served up a thriller as Don Poli gave champion trainer Willie Mullins success in the race for the first time.

Easy to back in light of support for stable companion Sir Des Champs, the 4-6 favourite, ridden by Bryan Cooper, was well-positioned from the outset, and jumped with his usual aplomb.

Some eight-to-ten lengths behind pacesetters On His Own and Foxrock for much of the race, he closed up, under pressure, racing around the final bends, and put his nose in front shortly after turning in.