AT the end of year like no other there were at least some reassuring constants at work and foremost among them was the remarkable Willie Mullins who enjoyed yet another stellar season. The truncated nature of the 2019/20 season meant that there was to be no gripping championship battle with Gordon Elliott over the course of the spring.

However, Mullins and his great rival served up yet another remarkable tussle for the champion trainer’s accolade at Cheltenham where, not for the first time, they simply seemed to transfer their domestic battle to Prestbury Park.