Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

MARK Walsh rarely waxes lyrical in post-race interviews so using the word “monster” as his first description of Majborough and the nine-length rout he posted in the Irish Arkle gives an indication of the type of performer he is.

J.P. McManus’ gorgeous five-year-old wasn’t foot-perfect throughout, giving his odds-on backers a few scares on the way around, but he was in complete command in powering up the straight to a bloodless victory.

Willie Mullins can now begin to work back from a crunch clash next month with Sir Gino, who will represent a significantly tougher test than the 8/11 winner faced here in beating Touch Me Not and a never-threatening Firefox (main market rival Ile Atlantique never figured in a remote fifth).

Bookmakers responded by cutting Majborough to between 2/1 and 5/2 for the My Pension Expert Arkle at Cheltenham (as big as 100/30 beforehand), while Sir Gino is still the favourite at 8/11.

Walsh said: "He's a monster, isn't he? The size of him. He just does everything so easily. He actually felt like he was hacking around there, but we were going a good gallop and I knew that. He has just such a big, powerful stride and he has such a high-cruising speed. It’s so easy to him.

"He made a few mistakes because we were going on a stride. It’s only his second run over fences so he’s going to learn. He wasn't a tired horse when finishing; he galloped all the way to the line.”

Mullins added: “I was looking at it from the stands, whereas everyone else was looking at it on the TV, and the whole crowd were going ‘ooh and aah’ every time he got close to one. Watching it from the side, I thought he never looked in danger, never looked like falling. The camera does lie now and again!

“That big jump at the third last sort of put it to bed. Mark was happy all the time. He pulled him wide coming to the last and did what he had to do. That was Plan B. Plan A was to settle in behind one or two, but Mark said when the flag went down he just saw the first fence and took off. He didn’t want to interfere with him.

“This horse has always been a standout of his generation, for me. We had Fact To File the year before, this fella this year and Final Demand is now the younger generation coming on [over hurdles]. They’re nice horses to have.”