Banbridge pips Captain Guinness in Champion Chase thriller

The eight-year-old secured top honours by a neck in the hands of JJ Slevin, with Dinoblue a further length and a quarter away in third

THRILLING FINISH: Banbridge gets up on the line to win the William Hill Champion Chase at the expense of Captain Guinness and Dinoblue. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Banbridge got up in the final stride to deny Captain Guinness a Champion Chase double in a pulsating renewal of the feature event on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

Nine runners went to post for the William Hill Champion Chase, with Mares' Chase runner-up Dinoblue the 11-10 favourite to beat the boys and provide Willie Mullins with a sixth successive victory in this extended two-mile contest.