Sad Twist takes gloss off Tartak's belated big victory

Paul Nicholls' multiple Grade One winner was still in front when he fell at the second-last, and although he managed to gallop past the line, he had sustained irreparable damage.

Nicholls' Breedsbreeze made a bold bid for home but he could not stop the finish of Tartak (11-4), who won by half a length.

The champion trainer said: "He has fractured a pastern and we've lost him. He's been a great horse and it's always sad when it happens."

Tartak's trainer Tom George said: "We've had a bit of luck today but he deserves to win a big one. We might well go for the Ryanair Chase, and the three-miler at Aintree will be his main target."

Over in Ireland, Ebor-winning handler Gordon Elliott struck at the top level for the first time when Jessies Dream made the most of the final-fence fall of Mikael D'Haguenet to claim the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.

Elliott said: "That's my first Grade One and it is great to do it with the owner's (David Johnson) first horse in training in Ireland.

"He wants further and better ground and he might go to Kempton for the Feltham Novices' Chase at Christmas."

Mullins enjoyed better luck on the rest of the card, with a treble spearhe

aded by Hurricane Fly in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

Market leader Solwhit made his bid two out but he was soon joined by Hurricane Fly and the pair treated racegoers to a battle royal, with the latter getting home by a length and a half.

Mullins said: "I thought Solwhit would definitely have a fitness edge on this sort of ground. The likes of Punchestown where the ground is good you can get away with it if you're less fit, but on this sort of ground it tells.

"I was more than surprised that he was able to come out with a performance like that today. Paul got him back for a reather. He pulled too hard for the first mile and three-quarters.

"Paul pulled him back about the third-last and in behind, got a belly full of air into him and put him back into the race again."

Asked about his path to the Champion Hurdle, Mullins went on: "We will just have to see how he comes out of the race."