IN just over 24 hours Willie Mullins showed just how potent a force he is in top quality flat handicaps as the success of Stratum at Newmarket was followed by Royal Illusion carrying all before her in the Tote Irish Cesarewitch. This enabled the trainer to bring up the hitherto unprecedented Cesarewitch double.

In the space of a memorable 15 minutes for the trainer, who also landed the Munster National, the Ballylinch Stud-owned Royal Illusion was putting the seal on a memorable first season riding for apprentice jockey Joey Sheridan.