AP MCCOY AND Synchronised upset the odds at Leopardstown this afternoon to claim the Lexus Steeplechase for owner JP McManus.
The feature three-mile chase had been billed as a tussle between Colm Murphy’s Quito de la Roque and Robbie Hennessy’s rising star Rubi Light, both tipped as possible Irish contenders in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
But as the field turned for home, it was McCoy and the 8/1 shot Synchronised who stayed on best, kicking on after the last to win by eight-and-a-half lengths from Rubi Light and claim the €93,000 top prize.
Quito de la Roque was a further two-and-a-half lengths back in third place.
Earlier in the day, Last Instalment (11/4) stormed home to take the Grade One Topaz Fort Leney Novice Chase ahead of his fellow Gigginstown contender First Lieutenant, while classy mare Voler la Vedette trumped the boys in the Grade Two woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle, beating Mourad by four-and-three-quarter lengths with Shakervilz back in third.
Trainer Willie Mullins celebrated a 11-1 treble across the rest of the day’s card as Make Your Mark, Quiscover Fontaine and The Bosses Cousin took his individual tally to six winners at the end of day three.
The four-day festival concludes tomorrow with eight runners set to go to post in the day’s feature, the Grade One Istabraq Festival Hurdle over two miles.
