CROSS country specialist Balthazar King is one of the most popular horses in training and many in the packed stands were worried following his crashing fall in the big one. It is to be hoped his broken ribs will respond to expert treatment.

Earlier in the day Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson had known a happier moment as 10-year-old Duke Of Lucca, who missed the National cut by two, just got home in a three-way battle with Your Busy and Wonderful Charm in the Listed Betfred Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong on the Mildmay Course.

Paul Nicholls’ Wonderful Charm, trying to concede winner and second 22lb and 23lb respectively, ran a marvellous race but gave himself plenty to do after a bad blunder at the 11th. Sam Twiston-Davies got him back into it as James Nash’s Your Busy led approaching two out.

Going through with his effort, Duke Of Lucca headed Your Busy before the last and battle was joined in earnest as Wonderful Charm tried to get on level terms.

Showing no ill effects from a painful tumble the previous day, Johnson kept Duke Of Lucca in front to score by a neck and the same as the crowd threatened to raise the roof.

It was nearly a memorable success for Nash, who rode many good horses as an amateur for Willie Mullins, including Florida Pearl in his bumper days. “I’m very proud of Your Busy,” he said. “He jumped brilliant and still thinks he’s a young horse at 12!”

MULLINS STARS ON ASTRE

A multi-runner handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys and amateur riders after the National is not necessarily what the punters ordered, though in fact there was money for 10/1 winner Astre De La Cour, trained by Robert Walford in Dorset but ridden by the very talented David Mullins.

This was a very shrewd booking in such a race because Mullins, son of Tom, had recently finished runner-up in the Irish Grand National, has ridden 25 winners over jumps in Ireland and was tremendous value for his 5lb allowance here.

Having mastered Little King Robin, Astre De La Cour went on three out but faced strong challenges from Fethard Player and The Game Changer, the latter bidding to give Gordon Elliott a fourth winner at the meeting. In another riveting finish, it was a question of a young Irish jockey holding two Irish-trained horses at bay, the distances at the line being no more than a head and just under two lengths.

Mullins will ride many more winners. “I had to get him to settle and the way he pulled out plenty at the end was impressive,” he said, downplaying his own role in a narrow victory.

The closing mares’ bumper went to another very promising lad in Sean Bowen, who rode his father Peter’s 8/1 chance Hollies Pearl to victory over Chocca Wocca and Sea Pride. Bowen senior is considering Punchestown before putting the mare away for the summer.

Alan King saddled three, Katie Too faring best in seventh. It was a sad meeting for the Barbury Castle trainer, who lost the talented Balder Succes in the Melling Chase on Friday.