Garner and Mullins out of luck as Mr Spex gives Matusky second Velka Pardubicka

Mr Spex got the better of a four-way fight after the last of 31 fences to win the 132nd Velka Pardubicka on Sunday.

The wait for a British or Irish winner goes on as Patrick Mullins was an early casualty, while Tom Garner's bold effort from the front faded over the last mile.

Jockey Lukas Matusky roared his delight after capturing the iconic Czech Republic race for the second time in three years, avoiding a fair amount of trouble on last year's third Mr Spex before waiting until after the last to launch his chance.

Patrick Mullins and Kaiserwalzer (dark green sleeves) clear the fearsome Taxis, followed by the winner, Mr Spex (pink silks)Credit: Patrick McCann

Matusky guided the 8-1 chance up the inside of 2021 winner Talent on the final bend and was able to turn around a six-length defeat from 12 months ago, while Sacamiro stayed on for third.

Matusky's previous win in the race came aboard Hegnus, who led the parade of 15 runners in front of packed grandstands to the strains of John Williams' 'The Olympic Spirit'.

Garner was bidding to become the first British rider to win the race since Charlie Mann in 1995 and set out to make the running aboard 12-year-old Stretton, on whom he has twice previously been placed in the 4m2½f marathon.

Riding 65-1 outsider Kaiserwalzer, Mullins survived an early scare when hurdling a faller at the giant Taxis jump, but his challenge lasted only two more fences before a fall at the Popkovic ditch.

Mr Spex with Lukas Matusky winning the Velka PardubickaCredit: Patrick McCann

The field had been reduced to 11 after the first mile and Stretton still appeared to be full of running before stumbling badly on the landing side of the 22nd, a three metre-wide open brook.

He and Garner went on to complete, but were last of the eight to finish in the 15-strong field.

Stretton's mishap left his stablemate and longtime co-leader Player at the head of the remaining runners, but he soon gave way to Talent, with Mr Spex moving into contention on the run down to two out.

Pavel Slozil looked to have timed his run well on Talent, but there was to be no back-to-back victory as he was overhauled by Mr Spex halfway up the run-in, to provide trainer Lubos Urbanek with a first Pardubicka.

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