Geraghty rallies Rouge as Mullins stars again with four-timer

Bleu Et Rouge, a Grade 1 winner over the course as a novice hurdler last season, pulled victory from the jaws of defeat to make a successful debut over fences in the 2m3f beginners' chase on a card again dominated by his trainer Willie Mullins.

A four-timer spearhead by Vroum Vroum Mag, added to the treble at the track on Monday and five winners on Tuesday, brought Mullins' tally for the Leopardstown Christmas festival to 12, while five victories at Limerick over the same period took his Christmas total to 17.

However, the champion trainer admitted he had virtually given up on the well-backed Bleu Et Rouge’s chances before Barry Geraghty conjured a late surge from the J P McManus-owned five-year-old to beat Gangster by three-quarters of a length.