Classic Getaway surprised stablemate Minella Cocooner as he led home a one-two-three for Willie Mullins in the Noreside Catering Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Gowran.
All eyes were on Minella Cocooner, winner of a Grade One novice hurdle at Leopardstown last term before going on to chase home another Mullins' runnner, The Nice Guy, at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.
Paul Townend unsurprisingly opted to ride evens favourite Minella Cocooner, with Danny Mullins taking the mount on 8-1 shot Classic Getaway, who was a £570,000 purchase for owners Cheveley Park Stud after winning on his point to point debut back in 2020 but failed to sparkle over hurdles last season.
Minella Cocooner set out to make all in the two-and-a-half-mile heat and all appeared to be going to plan as he built up a healthy lead over Journey With Me, with Classic Getaway settled back in third.
However, Townend was starting to get to work with three to jump and when Journey With Me fell at the second last, it was straight fight between the Mullins runners.
They jumped the last together but Minella Cocooner was awkward on landing, allowing Classic Getaway to seize the advantage and he saw it out well to triumph by two and three-quarter lengths in testing conditions.
Whatdeawant was a further 27 lengths back in third to complete the Mullins clean sweep.
Mullins said: "The ground is perfect for us so I wanted to get the three of them out. It’s not ideal but we let them take each other on and have them ready for Christmas so we know where we are going now.
"Paul was a shade unlucky having to make all the running and the horse was a little green in front which cost him as well as the mistake at the last.
"Take nothing from the winner. He travelled the whole way and jumped well. He had the benefit of getting a lead but did come through and jumped well. He did everything right."
