Ananova:

Rule Supreme struck for the Irish on St Patrick's Day by springing a 25-1 surprise in an eventful Royal & Sun Alliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Given a patient ride by David Casey, Willie Mullins' charge held Royal Emperor up the hill by one and a quarter lengths, with 11-8 favourite Our Vic two lengths further away third.

The winner's stablemate Mossy Green made the running and was still in front when Calling Brave, who was going well, made a bad mistake at the fourth-last fence, catapulting Mick Fitzgerald out of the saddle.

Mossy Green himself came down at the penultimate obstacle, bringing down the fancied Pizarro, who was still in with a shout.

Our Vic looked like landing the spoils but he had nothing else to give after the last.

"I just said to David 'hunt around and if you're still there at the second-last, have a go'. He rode a beautiful race," Mullins said.

Casey added: "He's a very good horse and has a good engine, he's just not a natural over fences. They went a good gallop and I knew he'd come home well.

"I was just hoping he would be there at the second or third-last. He didn't travel great early on, they were going too quick for him. But I knew he'd come home and I was confident we would be there or thereabouts."

Mullins went on to reveal plans for the winner.

He said: "He'll go to Punchestown, then the French Champion Hurdle, and then we are going to have a think.

"He may not have the scope to win a Gold Cup, so we may consider coming back for the Stayers' Hurdle."

Trainer Sue Smith said of runner-up Royal Emperor: "He's run a cracking race. He came here last year and was only just beaten in a photo, and today he has been beaten just over a length.

"If he had been lucky enough to have had some cut in the ground it would have helped him. On this ground he was flat to the boards all the time. It just goes to show what a determined battler he is.

"We will be back next year, all being well. Three and a quarter miles (the Gold Cup trip) will not bother him."

Our Vic's trainer Martin Pipe said: "He ran a good race - it was only his third start over fences. We haven't been beaten far and favourites don't always win."

Owner David Johnson added: "We chose the right race, but it's back to the drawing board now. There were no excuses and he was beaten by a better horse on the day."

	Related stories: Knight plans Best Mate's next move 09:45 Tuesday 23rd March 2004 Nicholls lands title with last-day treble 19:54 Thursday 18th March 2004 More related stories

	Check for more on: Cheltenham Festival Cheltenham racecourse Racing

Reckon you know what the scores will be? Where the big sporting shocks will come? Have a flutter at Blue Square where first-time Ananova users get a free £10 bet!