AT what was unquestionably one of the most critical junctures of the season and one which contained a host of intriguing subplots, Wicklow Brave produced an all star display to propel Willie Mullins into the lead in the trainers’ championship for the first time in many months.

The way the week had unfolded this championship event looked critical to the hopes of both Mullins and Gordon Elliott and the feature contest served up an enthralling spectacle. However, here was no bobbing finish or agonising last gasp success as the Patrick Mullins-ridden Wicklow Brave had slipped his field well before the closing stages.

Given that this was achieved with his son on board this was a victory of special resonance for Willie Mullins while it also showed just how good Wicklow Brave is when he puts it all together. Back in September Order Of St George was shocked by this multi talented eight-year-old and similar tactics here enabled Wicklow Brave to eclipse some of the best hurdlers around.

It could all have been a very different story at the start. Labaik, Wicklow Brave and Diakali have all had their issues with the start. As it happened Diakali was not for starting and he was withdrawn. Labaik then started without a hitch while Wicklow Brave needed no small amount of encouragement from Patrick Mullins to jump off at the rear of the field.

The Wicklow Bloodstock-owned winner wasn’t long for looking on from the rear though and nearing the back straight he started to move closer down the outside and after five flights the 12/1 chance then found himself in front. It didn’t take long for Wicklow Brave to get loose on the lead and he soon held a substantial lead over the chasing pack.

From the second last it was clear that the leader would take some catching and hard as they tried his rivals couldn’t bridge the gap. The leader flew the last and kept going well to defeat My Tent Or Yours by a length and a half. The winner’s stablemate Arctic Fire was a neck further away with Labaik keeping on well in the closing stages to secure fourth.

“I really enjoyed Patrick winning that. To do that on such a big day with so much at stake is just so special. To be quite honest I hadn’t even thought about the prize money aspect of things until someone said it to me when I was coming off the stand,” said Willie Mullins. “The horse just took off during the race and Patrick had the sense not to fight him and he just got the horse jumping and Patrick measured the last to perfection.

“He is a very good horse as he showed when he won the Irish St Leger the same way. I did have him entered in the Yorkshire Cup next month but I thought that we might need him here. I would imagine that we will go back on the flat with him now,” added the trainer.

Patrick Mullins added: “Rather than disappoint him I said I would let him enjoy himself and his jumping won it for him. It’s been an enthralling season and it’s a pity someone has to lose but after this we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance.’’