The Big Getaway Saunters Clear To Beginners Chase Success

A performance nothing short of perfect saw The Big Getaway (6g Getaway - Saddlers Dawn, by Saddlers’ Hall) run out an easy winner of Monday’s Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.

The Grade 1 hurdler was expected to prove a natural over fences, given that he won his point-to-point by 30 lengths, before selling to Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk for £230,000. Third on his chase debut earlier in the month, he was sent off favourite for the two mile and five furlong contest and made all under stable jockey Paul Townend. One length in front with three fences left to jump, he looked the likely winner approaching the final fence and kept on strongly on the run-in to win by ten lengths.

After the race, Mullins said a step up in class would now be on the cards for the winner, with the Flogas Novice Chase a possible option. Owned by Mrs Donnelly, the son of Getaway was bred by Alex Heskin and John Coleman.