Cheltenham: Walsh wins as Dinoblue becomes first dual winner of the Grade Two Mares’ Chase
Mark Walsh on Dinoblue celebrates after winning the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase. Photo: INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Dinoblue (11-8 Favourite) became the first dual winner of the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase as she today repeated her success of 12 months’ ago.
This time she came home a length and three quarters to the good over Only By Night.
Kildare jockey Mark Walsh spoke after the race, his 16th victory at Cheltenham: “(Dinoblue) never missed a beat today. She jumped brilliantly. She jumped her way upsides when jumping the last ditch – it was too early for me, but I didn’t want to disappoint her.
"When Tom Cannon’s mare missed the fourth last, I landed in front. I was able to fill her up everywhere. She winged the third last and then into the straight, I just sat on her – she’s a fair mare.”
Asked if this is a career best performance from her, he said: “Yes, I think so. That’s proper good ground. This mare has won on heavy ground, but she loves fast ground and that ground today is ideal for her – good fast ground.”
The victory marked 120 Cheltenham wins for trainer Wille Mullins, who said: “One thing Mark said when he got off was that her jumping today was magical, and especially over the last ditch. She just jumped it so well, she got into the race - I think she was third going into it - and then she was just competitive.
"He was wondering if he had gone too early. She took the bull by the horns herself, and what could he do? She got that extra length or two, and he said he just had to hope she would jump, and she was foot-perfect from there on.
“She’s a lovely mare. They’re a good match, Mark and Dinoblue, so what more can we say? Her jumping was extraordinary, and if you had a horse which jumped like that every day of the week, it would make this game very easy.”
This was win number 88 at Cheltenham for owner JP McManus, who said: “I would imagine that’s the idea. It’s very exciting owning her, she’s been a great mare.
"She always seems to turn up. Full marks to Willie and all his team for keeping her in top form.”
