There’s no doubt though that it is the remorseless Mullins bandwagon which is underpinning the Irish dominance and Walsh summed up most opinions when he said: “Willie has the horses in unbelievable form”. He said: “We’ve said in recent weeks that he hasn’t been pulling up trees in his work, but he’s been working better lately”.
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“I started to think differently but I never said anything to Rich”, Mullins said. As soon as I knew, I wanted people to know.
“It looked like the right race”. “But I would think he would be a Gold Cup horse for next year”.
Ruby Walsh recorded his 50th career Cheltenham Festival success when lifting Black Hercules home in the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
The all-conquering Willie Mullins-Ruby Walsh team headlined Ireland’s six victor haul with a hat-trick topped by an overwhelming victory for Vautour in the Ryanair Chase.
“He’s a pleasure to ride – we’ve had a fair battle with him since Christmas, but he was spectacular today”.
Pitched the inevitable “any regrets” question about dramatically and controversially switching Vautour from the Gold Cup, Mullins’ response was unequivocal – “I’m delighted we made the switch – because he’s won”. “He’s a pleasure to ride”.
“Hopefully there’s not too much damage done and his price in the Ryanair certainly didn’t move after I said that”.
Connections had dropped a bombshell on punters earlier in the week by not accepting for Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup despite assurances from owner Rich Ricci that the race was to be Vautour’s target. “We just wanted to do the right thing for the horse”.
“The change in plan for Vautour was a bit of a blow for us, but I think he’s run a good race. I’m the lucky guy who gets to steer the ship”.
“I know we talked about whether he would go for the Gold Cup, that’s been our intention all year, but it’s a very a hard race and if he’s only 90% right, then we don’t want to ruin the horse”.
Al Ferof ran a creditable race in fourth.
A comfortable race as a whole for the favourite as he went off at even money and he had little to contend with or than a challenge from Alpha Des Obeaux late on. “It’s not ideal but it’s still a great race, it’s a Grade One”. “It has all gone really well”.
“It turns out he’s not been doing cartwheels, I’ve been very clear about that in the run up to the race, but we felt we’d take our chance in the Ryanair”.
Jockey Harry Skelton said: “He didn’t get exhausted up the hill”.
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Thistlecrack needs to improve considerably if Cole Harden, all-the-way-winner last year, is back to his best; trainer Warren Greatrex is confident that is the case and though there are others sure to be “on the premises” we’ll support this game, genuine, and consistent, seven-year-old which will appreciate the fast ground.
