DINOBLUE made it fourth time lucky at the Cheltenham Festival, as she provided Willie Mullins with his ninth win of the week in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase. Last year’s runner-up was sent off 6/4 favourite under Mark Walsh, who rode the J.P. McManus-owned chesnut to chase front-running stablemate Allegorie De Vassey.

As the leader began to tire and jump to her right, Walsh availed of the opportunity to quicken up the rail and disputed approaching the final fence. Allegorie De Vassy crashed out, leaving Dinoblue to draw clear, staying on to score by eight and a half lengths. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Brides Hill and Gordon Elliott-trained Shecouldbeanything completed a 1-2-3 for Irish trainers.

For Mark Walsh, the win seemed particularly important following last year’s second. “Last year people said I gave her too much to do, but I actually couldn’t go on the heavy ground,” he said.

“Today she travelled well and jumped brilliantly, and I’m delighted she got her head in front. I popped her in behind Paul Townend and made sure I stayed on his left. She jumps off the good ground so much better than the heavy ground.

“I think she probably wants this trip now - she hasn’t the pace for two miles anymore. I think two and a half miles is her trip now.”

All positive

After his fifth winner of the week, owner J.P. McManus said: “She’s a much better mare on good ground. Mark said she loved it out there and loved the surface, whereas last year she found it tough. She’s been at it a while now, so her jumping should be good!”

Mullins later confirmed that both Allegorie De Vassy and Paul Townend had emerged unscathed from their final-fence fall. “I’m just sorry for Allegorie De Vassy, she’d run a cracker of a race,” he said.

“She was jumping too big, would have preferred a bit of company up the front with her, I think. Might have just had her a little bit sharper. She was just ballooning fences and once I saw her doing that early in play, I didn’t think she could be still challenging going to the last, because that takes a lot of energy out of them.”

Dinoblue made it three from three on the day for Closutton, with Galopin Des Champs still to come in the Gold Cup.