THERE was a smattering of mild surprise last Friday when it became known that Ruby Walsh would ride Djakadam in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown last Sunday, not Douvan in the Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase at Cork. If you had been betting on which he would ride, you probably would have bet a shade of odds-on Douvan, a shade of odds-against Djakadam. (And 12/1 the draw.)

You can see the case for going to Punchestown to ride Djakadam, hindsight being 20-20 vision and all. The John Durkan Chase is a Grade 1 race, the Hilly Way Chase is a Grade 2. The John Durkan had a winner’s pot of 50 grand, the Hilly Way had a winner’s pot of 30. And there were other goings-on at Punchestown, there was American Tom, who was making his debut over fences, and there was Turcagua, who was running over hurdles for the second time. There was also the fact that Douvan had a fairly straightforward-looking assignment in the Hilly Way, whereas Djakadam had a tough-looking task in the John Durkan, on his seasonal debut, taking on high-class and race-fit rivals in Sub Lieutenant and Outlander. You deploy your strongest assets where they are needed most.

Paul Townend is a top class rider, he gave Douvan the no-nonsense ride that he needed and he had a four-timer on the day, but Ruby Walsh is Ruby Walsh.

The rider himself gave the real rationale afterwards: “I left it up to Willie and he thought I should come here.”

D Mullins – D E v D J?

So D.E. Mullins, is that Danny Mullins or David Mullins? And which of them, therefore, is D.J.?

Some publications write out their Christian names in full, but when they do not, you need to be able to identify them by their initials. So D.E. is Danny. Know it by the E sound. D.E. Danny. DannE. David is D.J.. David James. In a sense, it doesn’t matter than much really, because both of them are riding out of their respective skins this season.

Mr P.W. is Patrick. (The inverse of Mr W.P.) That one’s easy.