AT long last the wait is over, Willie Mullins has his Gold Cup and seldom if ever has the champion trainer more deserved to win a big race.

The days of Florida Pearl seem a long time ago and much water has passed under the bridge since then.

Indeed Mullins could have been forgiven for thinking that this race might pass him by but it wasn’t to be.

Al Boum Photo and Paul Townend carried the day with a display of quality and assurance that provided a tremendous crescendo to a meeting which once again delivered.

SUPERB RACHAEL

EACH and every superlative that has come the way of Rachael Blackmore this season has been richly deserved and this has truly been a landmark week for the title chasing rider.

On Tuesday, A Plus Tard gave her an initial success on the most coveted stage of all and yesterday a hard earned and well-deserved first Grade 1 triumph came the rider’s way.

Perhaps the winning trainer Henry de Bromhead summed it better than anyone: “It’s great for Rachael. We’re just delighted to be able to use her. I don’t know what it is but she just wins.’’

That just about sums it up as the rider’s momentous season is approaching the 100-winner mark and it is entirely fitting that this has been the year in which she has made her breakthrough at the meeting.

Her exploits have been by far the most compelling and enthralling of all the narratives that this season has offered up.

TRAGIC death of SIR EREC

After the euphoria that accompanied Thursday’s card, Gold Cup day started on the most sombre of notes when Sir Erec met with a fatal injury in the Triumph.

In winning both his starts this horse had more than hinted at a brilliant jumping career and his demise is a heart-breaking one for all his connections.

The four days at Cheltenham have provided any amount of highlights but the demise of Sir Erec is one that will be felt keenly and there is no doubt that it cast a shadow over a day which started with buoyant atmosphere. After a period of Irish domination, the County Hurdle has produced four home-trained winners in the last six years and in particular it is a race that has highlighted the growing reach of the Dan Skelton yard.

For the third time in four years, Skelton supplied the winner as Ch’tibello realised a longterm plan in fine style – after all it’s not that often that the County Hurdle is settled by the time the leader clears the last flight.

The Skeltons speak with genuine feeling about the sense of occasion that accompanies this week. It again shows just why the year long National Hunt season ultimately revolves around four days in March.