Mitchouka swoops late to grab the glory at Leopardstown

Mitchouka and jockey Ricky Doyle in the parade ring after winning The TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase at Leopardstown Racecourse. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

On a day not without its drama, there was a thrilling finish to the feature race, the TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase, which went to the Gearoid O’Loughlin-trained and Ricky Doyle-ridden Mitchouka.

Paul Townend had dictated from the outset aboard Livelovelaugh and looked to have set perfect fractions. He led over the last and traded at 1-16 in running but Doyle never gave up and, with one late lunge, his mount got up in the final strides to snatch victory from his fellow joint favourite, with Valdieu back in third.