Ardkill Tunoco (5-2) credited trainer Julie Bateson with back to-back wins of the ibetx.com St Mungo Cup. Tunoco produced a tremendous performance to reverse Boherna Best’s All England Cup form in Saturday’s £2,500 final on the 480m track at Shawfield.

Bateson always looked like retaining the title once Tunoco had flashed out of the traps and got first run on Best, who gave chase but never threatened to catch up with the leader.

Tunoco ultimately scored by more than five lengths from kennelmate Target Gold, who stayed on late to pass the All England Cup champion for second.

The winning time of 29.36 sec reflected a surprisingly slow track. Bateson said: “I don’t think the slow going affected the outcome, although I suppose it might have helped Target Gold get second as he’s a really strong runner.”

“We’ve always said Ardkill Tunoco is very good when he gets it right and that’s just what he did this time.”

“The St Mungo is a fantastic old competition with a brilliant trophy and one I’ve always targeted since I got a licence. A lot of credit and thanks are due to ibetx for stepping in at short notice to ensure it went ahead this year.”

B.Shah