Cheltenham Festival banker Monkfish survives last-fence scare with loose horse running rogue to land Brown Advisory

MONKFISH survived a final-flight fright to get the job done for Willie Mullins in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Short-priced backers were given a huge scare at the last, with jockey Paul Townend almost sliding off as the 1-4 jolly landed.

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Loose Eklat De Rire meant Townend and Monkfish had little wiggle room at the last

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But Monkfish survived the scare and soon kicked up the hill to win

Loose horse Eklat De Rire tried his best to spoil the party after he unshipped jockey-of-the-moment Rachael Blackmore on the back straight.

Turning for home Henry De Bromhead’s jockey-less horse hit the front and gave Townend and Monkfish another problem to worry about.

Approaching the last, Townend tried to give Eklat De Rire room, and almost suffered on the other side.

But Townend had enough petrol underneath to find a winning gear and kick up the hill despite Mullins admitting that was the most nervous he’d been watching one of his stars run.

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Colin Tizzard’s Fiddlerontheroof plugged on for second, six-and-a-half lengths behind the winner who was winning his fourth race in a row over fences.

The bookies were quick to cut Monkfish in to 9-2 for next year’s Gold Cup from the 7-1 that was available beforehand.

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Mullins joked: “That was heart-stopping! I’ll have to thank James McCarthy, the heart surgeon at the clinic for the good job he did.

“When he made the mistake at the last, or whatever he did, it was even harder to watch on the replay.

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“He just didn’t find that usual rhythm today. He put in a quick one early and it seemed to unsettle him.

“Paul got him back but then he seemed to miss another one.

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Townend was a relieved man when he could finally celebrateCredit: PA

“I don’t want to go through that again, that was probably the most nerve-wracking race!”

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