Captain Guinness produced a fine round of jumping in the hands of Rachael Blackmore to take the Sean P Muldoon & Patrick F Gormley Fortria Chase at Navan.
The cause of Henry de Bromhead's seven-year-old was made easier by a wrath of withdrawals on account of the ground, with those to defect including likely favourite Ferny Hollow. But there was no faulting the display from the high-class chaser who was registering his first Grade Two success.
Always to the fore, Captain Guinness led along the four that went top post for the most part and looked set to face a strong challenge from 10-11 favourite Riviere d'Etel as the race reached the business end.
However, Jack Kennedy's mount made a crushing error at the second-last and that was enough for Blackmore and Captain Guinness to capitalise and build up a race-winning advantage.
To her credit, Riviere d'Etel rallied strongly after the last, but could not catch the game winner, who was shortened into 16-1 from 33-1 for the Tingle Creek at Sandown with Betfair.
Captain Guinness sees off Riviere D'etel to win the Fortria Chase pic.twitter.com/Lkx6DWGZ4F
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 13, 2022
De Bromhead said: "He had done a lot of work for this, we had targeted it during the summer and it seemed the right race for him.
"He's some horse to leap and she (Blackmore) is an amazing lady.
"Absolutely (a big day in him), he's a really good horse and was giving away plenty of weight. We've yet to win a Grade One (with him), it is something we would like to achieve.
"I think we will maybe enter him in the Tingle Creek, he seems to really enjoy it around there (third last year). We'll see, we will enjoy today most importantly."
Taking the decision to withdraw Ferny Hollow from his comebackwas a "very easy one to make", said Mullins.
This was the intended returning point for the seven-year-old - the Champion Bumper winner in 2020 - who has not been seen since winning a Grade One novice chase at Leopardstown's last December.
The Closutton trainer said: "It was a very easy decision to make.
"From last Thursday I arrived at the sales in Cheltenham and a few people who live locally to here said it (ground) could be lively. I was supposed to be in France today, so I changed my flight instead of going on to Paris.
"Chatting to Paul Townend when he got up early and walked the track, he said coming round the second-last is not for this horse."
Mullins also took the promising Flame Bearer out his Navan engagement, and added: "They are two big units (Ferny Hollow and Flame Bearer) and it is early in the season. We are not going to take any chances."
Mullins also had news of Allaho, who this week was reported to have suffered a "couple of niggles" which would mean him missing the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
He said: "Two little hiccups, but I'm hopeful they will come right at the same time. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
"He is going to miss Christmas. Fingers crossed he will make a quick recovery as planned. I'm hoping the nature of his little setbacks, he will be fine."
