The Willie Mullins-trained Min has held off a late charge from Saint Calvados to claim the Grade One Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Under Paul Townend, he took the lead after turning for home and held off 16/1 shot Saint Calvados by a neck with the pre-race favourite A Plus Tard back in third.
"He was giving a nervous time there from the last home with Saint Calvados coming up the inside but he knuckled down and held on in the end," Mullins said when asked about Min's performance by Off The Ball's John Duggan.
"He's a real good horse when left to jump and you could see how good he is. He's always better when he enjoys himself jumping and galloping."
Second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Now first in the @Ryanair Chase!
After some near misses, Min gets his head in front 🙂#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TkWAPDQRvG
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2020
"We went pretty hard early on but then we steadied it down and Min got into a great rhythm," Townend told ITV Racing.
"It's very important to win here, it's a big week. I've been coming here a long time and coming here with good rides so just had to approach it the same manner."
