Mullins strikes back on thrilling Thursday at Cheltenham
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Write Willie Mullins off at your peril. Following a chastening first half to this year’s Cheltenham Festival, the Closutton handler answered his critics in style on St. Patrick’s Thursday.
First up came Yorkhill, hardy a rock solid pick for this year’s JLT Novices’ Chase, but a more than welcome winner to get Willie and Ruby Walsh on the board.
It was an expert ride from Walsh, who had to use all of his guile to pick a path around fallen horses, before landing the spoils.
As you can imagine, winning the JLT took a big weight off his shoulders.
“He’s a racehorse. He’s a Gold horse – it’s written all over him” – Relief and joy for Ruby Walsh after Yorkhill wins pic.twitter.com/fMh0ODvtVp
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2017
Presenting Percy then stole the show in the Pertemps Network Final, with Davy Russell producing another victory for last year’s winning connections.
“There’ll be bonfires in Craughwell tonight,” says Davy Russell as Galway trainer Pat Kelly masterminds Festival glory with Presenting Percy pic.twitter.com/HKoC3tXAoI
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 16, 2017
But the spotlight quickly returned upon Willie and Ruby when the talented but precocious Un De Sceaux really came of age to rout the field in the Ryanair Chase.
That victory also triggered our superb Mullins Money Back offer!
Un De Sceaux wins and just look at the joy in the winners enclosure! pic.twitter.com/QFwEvJ94vz
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2017
And the dynamic duo weren’t about to finish there.
Unowhatimeanharry had been backed into odds-on favourtism before the Stayers’ Hurdle.
However, it wasn’t to be his day. That honour went to the usual suspects and the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned, Nichols Canyon.
Not a bad fightback so far…
Three from four for Walsh & Mullins:
Yorkhill ✔
Un De Sceaux ✔
Nichols Canyon ✔Form is temporary, class is permanent#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/z4ClAHLpOI
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) March 16, 2017
But this wasn’t turning into a day just for Closutton.
St. Patrick’s Thursday was reaping rewards for the whole of Ireland with Road to Respect bringing up a fifth win in as many races for the raiding party.
The luck of the Irish shows no signs of running out as Road To Respect romps to victory for Noel Meade and Bryan Cooper #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/A0p8630qri
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 16, 2017
And continuing the theme of the day, Let’s Dance justified favourtism in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle to bring up a previously unthinkable fourth win for the Mullins camp.
Let’s Dance wins the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle to land a fourth victory of the day for Mullins and Walsh ? pic.twitter.com/RmysBeFDsH
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) March 16, 2017
Crisis, what crisis?
- All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
