Racing:The Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle at Punchestown served up a thriller despite the poor conditions with Quevega landing the race for the third successive year.
The Grade One was billed as a match between Willie Mullins’s incredible mare, winner of the last four David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdles at Cheltenham, and Voler La Vedette, runner-up to Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle last month.
Punters were not disappointed, either, as the two big guns arrived late on the scene still on the bridle as Mourad took over from the pace-setters turning into the straight.
As has been the case whenever they have met before, however, Quevega just had that extra change of gear when Ruby Walsh pressed the button, and the 11-10 favourite sprinted clear to win by five and a half lengths to give Mullins his seventh winner of the week.
Mullins said: “She’s a good mare. Obviously Voler La Vedette was in some form and had great form coming into the race so I was quite worried, but she did the business.
“We keep it simple - one run every six months! We’ve taken her to Auteuil once or twice but I’m not sure, we’ll see how she comes out of this but we’ll stick to the same programme next year I would think.”
Asked if he could be tempted to clash with Big Buck’s, Mullins said: “I’ll take on Big Buck’s at Cheltenham if they can get him entered in the mares’ hurdle, is that good enough!
“The programme we follow works fantastic so I’m not looking for diversions. We follow a plan and it works well.”
Reflecting on the victory, Mullins added: “She did what Ruby asked her and when push came to shove she still had plenty left in the tank.
“She pinged the last - not like here last year - and as we would never have minded taking on the best over two miles with her, we knew she wouldn’t be found wanting for a change of gear.
“She won three on the flat before she ever came to me. She’s a real good mare and she showed that today. It was a fantastic performance and a great ride by Ruby too.
Mullins’s sixth victory came thanks to his son Patrick, who produced a masterclass to put top-weight Uncle Junior in front right on the line at the end of four miles and a furlong in the La Touche Cup.
Dropped right out in the early stages under his welter burden of 12st 7lb, his supporters would not have spotted him until the field joined the racecourse proper.
There were not many casualties over the unique banks course but Outlaw Pete was still in with a chance when he unseated Josh Halley at ‘Ruby’s Double’ for the third and final time.
That left 25-1 chance Lydon House in front and he appeared to have the race won, but Uncle Junior (6-1 co-favourite) was making relentless progress after the last and got up in the final stride. Saddlers Storm was third.
Tofino Bay handled the desperate conditions best as he made just about every yard of the running in the opening Stephens Green Hibernian Club Hurdle.
Trained by Dessie Hughes, the lightly-raced nine-year-old has been consistent without getting his head in front this season, chasing home the top-class Get Me Out Of Here at Fairyhouse last time out.
The money arrived for David Pipe’s The Tracey Shuffle who went off the 15-8 favourite and travelled well for a long way before tiring between the final two flights.
It was Ruby Walsh on Turban who emerged as the biggest danger but he was just feeling the pinch when a mistake at the last cost him dearly.
Tofino Bay (5-2) held on to win by two and a quarter lengths under champion-elect Davy Russell.
Hughes said: “It’s lovely to win a race here. He was very good in Fairyhouse and when he won his bumper that was real good ground so I was a little bit afraid with it being so heavy today, but he handled it very well.
“He jumped impeccably and he quickened when he needed to. He’ll go over fences next year.”
Russell said: “His chance today was really obvious. To be fair to Dessie he’s done a great job getting him here because he’s had his fair share of injuries.
“We went as quick as we would have liked and my fellow has a lot of energy and pulled out all the stops. If he stays injury free hopefully we can get stuck into him over fences.”