Kappa Jy Pyke upsets Salvator Mundi at Thurles

Willie Mullins won the Thurles Racecourse Beginners Chase for the sixth time in seven years – but not with long odds-on favourite Salvator Mundi, who had no answer to the finishing kick of stablemate Kappa Jy Pyke.

Salvator Mundi was sent off the 1-7 market leader based on his Grade One win over hurdles as a novice at Aintree. Kappa Jy Pyke, in contrast, failed to make the grade during his time over timber, but already looks like take much higher order over fences.

Danny Mullins was content to track his stable companion before pulling wide approaching the second-last and quickening up to win by a length and a quarter at 6-1.

“Being the horse that Salvator is, you’d be thinking he would be hard to beat, but as the race developed my jumping was great and I was able to play it tactically late-on. Thankfully it came off,” said the winning rider.

“Willie wants us all going out to try to win, and thankfully I came out on top today.

“Paul (Townend) had picked Kappa over the horse I rode (Funiculi Funicula) at Aintree as he thought he had a winning chance there, but he didn’t perform. He seems to have come back a stronger horse and hopefully he can keep building on that.”

Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury was rewarded for a string of consistent efforts when seeing off Mullins’ veteran Appreciate It in the Racing TV Club Day Chase.

Second to Western Fold at Gowran prior to running a career best at Down Royal when runner-up again, this time to Envoi Allen in the BetVictor Champion Chase, he was sent off the 8-11 favourite to go one better.

He always looked to be travelling better than his pursuer and won by almost five lengths.

“He has been a little unlucky and one day at Fairyhouse last February he made a bad mistake at the last and lost,” said Meade.

“Last year we had planned on running in the Irish National and again this year we had the same plan, but they changed the qualifying rules. He had to have four runs so we started him back in Gowran (in October), but he picked up a penalty for finishing second and picked up a further 7lb for finishing second to Envoi Allen in the north, so effectively that put him out of handicaps.

“The Coral Gold Cup in Newbury had been in my mind, but this race was made for him and I’m not sorry we didn’t travel. Today is only his sixth run over fences and I’ll play it by ear now, but his next run could be in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.”

Mullins doubled up with an interesting French recruit in Le Divin Enfant (1-6 favourite), who had finished fourth to Lulamba at Auteuil in October 2024.

“He had the experience from his French jumping and while it wasn’t the deepest race, he had a nice experience out there and jumped for fun. I’d be hoping he could be a good standard as I got the feel of a good horse from him. I didn’t dip the tank at all and that is usually a good sign,” said Townend.

“I’d say this trip suits and while he was busy today, that should knock the freshness off him. Even after the race, he was still fresh in himself.”

Regarding Salvator Mundi’s defeat, he added: “You are always looking for positives, but I was disappointed to get beaten. The winner took a huge step forward, but I think Salvator Mundi will improve a lot as he took a couple of blows, like a lot of ours are doing.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t shake off Danny in the home straight.”