CORAL PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP (GRADE 1)

In a series of seismic results that saw all the momentum swing to Willie Mullins in the trainers’ championship, Bellshill rebounded from an unlucky defeat in a gruelling Irish Grand National to lead home a one-two for the yard in the Punchestown Gold Cup. The Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned chaser was also serving notice of his emergence as a staying chaser of the highest quality.

Just over three weeks ago Bellshill seemed set to carry all before him at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday only to veer out to his left on the run to the last fence, make a costly mistake and getting beaten a length and a half into fourth before being demoted to fifth – a decision which still rankles with his trainer.

Redemption was at hand here for both the horse and jockey David Mullins and it speaks volumes for the winner’s ability that he could make his mark at this level just 23 days later.

By their own lofty standards the Wylies have endured something of a fallow season. However their campaign ended on a high with this result and they can now look towards 2019 with some optimism as they have a legitimate Gold Cup contender on their hands.

BEST EFFORT

While centre stage went to Bellshill, stablemate Djakadam posted his best effort of the season to fill the runner-up spot. This was his fourth year in a row to finish second in this race and he may not be finished for the season with a high-profile assignment in France looming large on the horizon for the very durable nine-year-old.

In a race that passed without incident, Djakadam made the running for Patrick Mullins and turned in an especially enthusiastic display that put many of his rivals on the back foot from some way out. For his part, Bellshill was never far away although he came under pressure to close up from the fourth last fence.

Djakadam was continuing to bowl along in front turning for home and various challengers had cried enough but not so Bellshill. He closed in steadily and asserted after the last to go several lengths clear. He idled in the closing stages and this allowed Djakadam to get back to within three parts of a length at the line.

Road To Respect was eight lengths back in third with Sub Lieutenant fourth.

DESERVING

“He deserved it after Fairyhouse where he ran some race and it hasn’t been a great season for Andrea or Graham Wylie so it’s very well deserved for them,” said Mullins.

“To come back from Fairyhouse where he was very unlucky and win here like that, it just shows what he had left in the tank when he made the mistake at the last in the National. He lost concentration just like he did today when he was in front.”

“I was amazed he was disqualified after the Irish National and I couldn’t get over that it wasn’t overturned yesterday. I’ve never seen a horse make a mistake at a fence and be disqualified when it was no fault of the rider. There are countless examples of it in Irish racing, and I think the decision opens a huge can of worms.

“He could be a Gold Cup horse and the performance he put up in Fairyhouse was a Gold Cup performance in my book. Today has just confirmed that,” added Mullins.

Of the runner-up he commented: “Djakadam ran very well and Patrick got a great tune out of him. He runs well here and that was his best run of the season.

“I’d say after his run in the John Durkan I just ran him back too quickly at Christmas and maybe it just took him until now to recover.

“We’re thinking of going for the Grand Steeplechase de Paris with him.”