Back in business

CRISIS? What Crisis? Such are the standards set by Willie Mullins that two days without a winner at the Festival generated no small amount of comment, but it was all change on a remarkable afternoon as he struck back with a 179/1 four-timer.

On a day when Ruby Walsh made history by becoming the first jockey in the meeting’s history to ride four winners on one day, Mullins enjoyed what must rank as an afternoon for the ages as he passed the half-century mark for Cheltenham winners.

Relief, great, pure joy and elation was how the trainer described his respective feelings after each winner. If equanimity best described his reaction to Douvan’s defeat on Wednesday, Mullins was typically unflappable as his day and that of the incomparable Ruby Walsh just got better and better.

“I would have accepted one winner today. People expect us to have winners here - we hope to have winners. If it was that easy there would be no pressure and no fun in it.

“The last two days show you that. It’s a tough place to win and we respect this place and the opposition here. To get a winner on the board was great and it’s been a huge bonus since,” was the trainer’s neat and eloquent summation of the day’s events.

Yorkhill slams opposition

In equine terms there were a number of different and compelling personalities on show. Firstly to Yorkhill who stepped up to the mark in some style in the JLT.

Last season’s star novice hurdler didn’t win everybody over with his first two efforts over fences but surely no one was unmoved by a performance that contained a good deal more superiority than the winning margin suggested. Just as it was 12 months ago, the sky is the limit for this son of Presenting.

Oh Sceaux good

The dashing Un De Sceaux then produced a display that contained all the verve and flamboyance that have been his hallmarks for five seasons. Both this horse and Yorkhill present their own unique challenges for Ruby Walsh but, as befits a master of his art, the meeting’s dominant rider gelled seamlessly with both.

Canyon’s talent shines through

Meanwhile, Nichols Canyon’s revival was perhaps indicative of the day enjoyed by his connections. Easily one of the most talented horses in the Stayers’ Hurdle field, he had looked out of sorts lately and it looked, at one point, as though he may not even travel. However, the horse who was once viewed as a potential successor to Inglis Drever looked just that under a waiting masterclass.

Percy presented perfectly

Elsewhere, Pat Kelly’s notable prowess was yet again in evidence as Presenting Percy sauntered to Pertemps glory to extend Davy Russell’s winning sequence at the meeting to 12 years. Another hugely popular presence among the winners was that of Noel Meade, whose Road To Respect ran riot in a race that has suddenly become a kind one to Irish horses following a 34-year barren spell.