No miss for Missed That

Missed That held off the persistent challenge of Arteea to win the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase.

Justified went on six fences from home under McCoy, but was joined after the third-last by Missed That and Arteea.

They went clear at the last with Champion Bumper hero Missed That (3-1), trained by Willie Mullins, finding more for David Casey to win by three-quarters of a length.

Justified was third, but Nickname, the 11-8 favourite, was pulled up after losing all chance with a bad mistake down the far side.

Mullins was understandably all smiles after greeting Missed That in the winner's enclosure.

He said: “He did that nicely and I’m delighted with him. David gave him a great ride and asked him to go at the right time. He jumped a bit sticky early on, but David let him find his feet – he knew they’d gone a fast pace and he timed his challenged just right.

“I’m sure he was a bit anxious down the back, but didn’t get too worried. He’s done fantastically since his first run over fences. He’ll definitely go to the Arkle now and the way he pulled in the Champion Bumper last year, we knew he’d be a two-mile horse.”

Arteea's trainer Michael Hourigan said: "He ran a cracker and is a fair horse. He ran poorly here at Christmas, but he jumped super today and he will be a better horse in another month.

“He’ll have a break now and then we’ll bring him back for Cheltenham where the hill and the better ground should suit him. I thought he would win coming into the last and I know he jumps and stays.”

Eamon Sheehy, responsible for Justified, said: “He didn’t finish and I’m very disappointed. I will get him scoped and see if there is anything amiss. Between the last three and four I thought he was going to win, but he just found nothing.”

O'Dwyer, the rider of Nickname, said: "The ground was quick enough out there and it was a different pace today. The mistake put him out of it and I thought it just as well to mind him home after that.”