A DAM FINE SHOWING
LEADING Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Djakadam showed his wellbeing in the traditional pre-festival gallops and schooling after racing at Leopardstown.
Willie Mullins’s charge, runner-up in chasing’s blue riband in the last two seasons, was given a lead by Arkle Trophy-bound Royal Caviar before heading his stablemate towards the end of the breeze in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
Bellshill was an early faller at the first but both he and Patrick Mullins were up quickly.
Mullins said: “He’s a little bit stiff afterwards. I’d have liked to have schooled him again after that but because he was a little bit stiff it was best not to and we’ll see how he is in the morning.
“Rule Supreme did fall here in a schooling session and went on to win the RSA Chase.
“I was very happy with the other two. Djakadam has not run since Christmas but I think he is best when fresh and I was very pleased with him here.”
Mullins worked another trio of Cheltenham hopefuls, headed by JLT Novices’ Chase fancy Yorkhill.
Last year’s Neptune Novices’ Hurdle winner warmed to the task and easily won the gallop under Walsh after making fiddly mistakes at the first few obstacles.
Of Yorkhill, Mullins said: “He went a bit left at the first few fences and then jumped high and Ruby said he gave himself a bit of a fright early in the back straight but he was electric after that. We might school him again before Cheltenham and he will go for the JLT.
“Blazer is in a few handicaps but he’s high enough over there and is better treated over here. We might keep him at home.
“I’m not sure where we’ll run Arbre De Vie, the four-miler is a possibility. It was fine bar Bellshill. That was the only blot.”
■Antartica De Thaix inched Paul Nicholls another step closer to his best seasonal total of winners after gaining the most valuable success of her career in the 188Bet Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase at Huntingdon.
After saddling an across-the-card treble on Saturday, the 10-times champion trainer moved on to the 130-winner mark for the campaign thanks to the seven-year-old.
Nicholls said: “She is getting there and will probably go for a mares’ race at Cheltenham in April. It has been a good weekend with four winners and that was our 130th of the season. I want to try to beat our record of 155.”