IT seems so long now since Cheltenham but, as the jumps season here and in the UK appear to have come to premature ends, it’s worth one final look back.

The Festival was a tale of two trainers. And two jockeys.

Mullins and Elliott had seven winners apiece. Mullins took five Grade 1s to Elliott’s two, the number demonstrated the difference in the quality in each yard. Willie’s wins and placings amounted to £1,247,311 to Gordon’s £664,652

It was a huge Festival too for both Paul Townend and Barry Geraghty, and in different ways. One was stepping into gigantic shoes, the other, well used to the big glory days but returning from one of his most serious injuries. Both needed a big week.

Both got it, riding five winners each and taking home the two big prizes, the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup.

Townend was tested and came through. He’d had plenty of experience as deputy to Ruby, stepping into the hot seat on Hurricane Fly some years back, but he had a question mark against him for Al Boum Photo in Punchestown three years ago and the ride on Un De Sceaux in Ascot raised a few eyebrows. Willie said: “Paul said he was never travelling?” We’re still not sure how to read Willie’s interviews, was that a disappointed trainer or a vexed one?

Then came Festival day one and Benie De Dieux met her defeat. “I just think it was miscommunication turning for home,” said a straight-faced Mullins, was that criticism? Ruby left no doubt. “Paul Townend should have shoved Robert Power in and closed the door.” But then, just as Walsh did on ‘Ruby Thursday’ in 2017, Townend turned the tide with some brilliant rides on Ferny Hollow, Min, Burning Victory, Monkfish and Al Boum Photo. Never in doubt.

Barry Geraghty has had criticism too in his time. It’s often a by-product of the colours that he regularly races in. But he has won all the big ones and always appears as someone capable of shrugging off abuse.

Yet this was an important Festival and you realised it in an insightful interview last Friday on an Off The Ball edition on Newstalk. Like Walsh, he’s had plenty of bad injuries and bounced back. Anyone one who saw the contraption he was forced to wear to mend his leg from the injuries in Aintree last spring couldn’t but think it would get a man down. And that was without us knowing how painful or restricting to normal family life it was. Geraghty admitted last week that, this time, it got him down.

So to get back to full fitness and go back to the fray took more effort than before. And when Champ plunged into that second last in Cheltenham in the new year, he must have wondered was it wise. But Cheltenham showed all his skills, confidence and judgement were restored.

There were also reminders that we ‘newspaper judges’ often forget, if a rider misjudges or loses a race, they know it. They don’t need it pointed out. Geraghty recalled his two wins on Sire De Berlais and how the defeat in the same race on Glenloe was still in his mind. Epatante was good – he said he’s never hit the front before the last on any of the five winners – and Champ was one to be proud of.

Champ doesn’t jump well enough to win a Gold Cup, but stranger things have happened. Neither did Synchronised. Geraghty drew similiarities to how he won the Gold Cup on Bobs Worth. He knows that road well-travelled. You wouldn’t bet on him not having another big day yet.

It’s been a great season for the two Irishmen.