Peerless Walsh in Arkle chase masterclass
If you want to know why Ruby Walsh has ridden 58 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, 23 more than anyone else, you need only watch his winning ride on Footpad in yesterday’s Racing Post Arkle Chase.
He may have been on the best horse but Walsh was content to let his principal rivals Saint Calvados and Petit Mouchoir tear off in front – 15 lengths clear at one stage – and cut their own throats.
Despite banking the fifth fence, Footpad was still able to pick them off at will and win by 14 lengths. It was to Petit Mouchoir’s credit that he was passed only late on by Brain Power for second.
“His race-craft is legendary,” said trainer Willie Mullins, “though it does mean he gives you heart attacks. I’m going to find a seat to watch in future. I can’t take much more of this! I thought our chance had gone when he made that mistake but Ruby sat and sat and had the feeling that the ones in front were going too fast.”
As much as the first odds-on shot winning will have hurt bookmakers, it was swings and roundabouts because they had Walsh to thank when he and Benie Des Dieux won the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, turning over 1-2 favourite Apple’s Jade, who could finish only third.
Mullins’s third win came in the National Hunt Chase when son Patrick got Rathvinden home for a hard-fought victory over Ms Parfois.
The gap between Mullins Festival winners can often be counted in races or minutes, but it had been 16 years since Tom George greeted his first and only winner, Galileo. However, Summerville Boy ended the wait in the Supre me Novices’ Hurdle, despite making a horrendous mistake at the last two flights.
He nevertheless had enough left to battle bravely up the hill and win by a neck.
Mossback [NH Chase] and Report To Base [Close Brothers] were sadly fatally injured.