THE time performance of the day came over fences as El Fabiolo (176) repeated his performance in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in the Cheltenham equivalent, utilising the front-running prowess of his stable companion to raise the bar again in terms of his time figure.

Jockey Danny Mullins possessed a modicum of control on Dysart Dynamo early, evidenced by the field being relatively tight passing the stands.

However, with the descent into the back straight as motivation, the Mullins’ second string spread the field out all over Prestbury Park.

The only participants to stay within challenging distance were Jonbon (170) and the eventual winner, although it was clear from the turn for home it was the double green of Munir and Souede who were set to triumph.

There is no doubt El Fabiolo has his own way of jumping fences and as is well documented he looks assured when making mistakes, which he needed at the final fence as he produced his worst jump of the round, remarkably after being spring heeled at the second last.

Copycat performance

Corach Rambler (160) was a repeat of the Ultima Chase as both visually and on the clock he produced a copycat performance.

However, despite his looking to finish with purpose he was no match for the Arkle winner on the circuit analysis as Willie Mullins’ Grade One winner covered the ground a staggering 9.3secs (46 lengths) quicker.

A statistic he supplemented with a closing sectional of 89.8secs from the final ditch, in comparison the Lucinda Russell-trained dual Festival winner covered the ground in 93.0secs.

The victory of Gaillard Du Mesnil (124) looked highly unlikely for all but the last furlong of the National Hunt Chase and as a finishing effort of 97.0secs portrays it was also eventually hard earned.

Mahler Mission departing the scene at the second last was cruel on his connections as he still looked to be galloping strongly. John McConnell’s gelding had slipped his field descending the hill for the final time which no doubt involved an injection of speed, relative to the extra distance covered, as the final circuit time recorded by Willie Mullins’ winner stood scrutiny against the Ultima Chase winner despite the slow-motion finish, the difference being just 0.6secs.