JLT Novices' Chase report: Yorkhill joy for Mullins

1.30 Cheltenham - JLT Novices' Chase result

1st Yorkhill 6/4 favourite

2nd Top Notch 7/2

3rd Disko 4/1

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Race Report

The expected fast pace in the two and a half mile didn't materialise with neither Politologue nor Disko taking up the gauntlet.

Ruby Walsh had a tight hold on Yorkhill, the brilliant winner of last season's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, in rear while Baily Green failed to settle with Balko Des Flos seemingly setting only a moderate gallop.

Baily Green fell at the downhill fence going out into the country, hampering Flying Angel in the process, and Balko Des Flos was the next to depart when attempting to increase the tempo.

The big three were still in contention with Top Notch and Yorkhill both travelling strongly.

Walsh had hugged the inside throughout and moved up the inside of Top Notch still with a tight hold on his mount and he was handed the advantage when Top Notch made a mistake at the second last.

It looked as though the seven-year-old would quicken clear but he didn't get away brilliantly from the last and the tenacious Top Notch battled back but Yorkhill responded and went on to win by a length with Disko three lengths away in third.

It was a first victory of the week for both Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins who had suffered several high profile reverses, none more so than Douvan in Wednesday's Champion Chase.

It was a fourth victory in only seven runnings of the race for Mullins who struck with Sir Des Champs in 2012 and with Vautour and Black Hercules in the previous two renewals.

Sky Bet introduced Yorkhill into the betting for the 2018 Queen Mother Champion Chase at 6/1 while making him 5/1 favourite for the Ryanair Chase. He is also 16/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and 10/1 from 16s for the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Spokesman Michael Shinners said: "Yorkhill has got a huge amount of talent and his fair share of quirks. If Willie Mullins can iron those out, it would be no surprise to see him go on and emulate the achievements of Vautour and Sir Des Champs who Mullins also saddled to success in this race."

Reaction

Willie Mullins: "To get on the board is huge. To get on the board in a Grade One is better. It's good for Ruby and the whole team. We've had a hard few days, but that's the way it is and we take what we can get."

"He was good, I'm wondering if he idled in front, as I thought he might go away. For a moment it looked like he might be coming back to them, but he held on.

"Ruby was great, he's not the easiest of rides and after the last few days I was wondering if he was too far behind, but you can't give him his head because if he passes one horse he wants to be in front, so he had to sit and suffer and wait for the gap.

"I've no doubt he's a Champion Hurdle horse and Ruby has no doubt he's a Gold Cup horse! Ruby thought he was a lot more settled this year than in the Neptune, so we'll maybe go down the Gold Cup route.

"It took Ruby a long time to pull him up which is a good sign in any horse. We're on the board now, so it's a big relief."

Ruby Walsh: "There's been a lot of toing and froing about whether to go chasing or stay hurdling, but he's got Gold Cup horse written all over him and always had.

"People crab him because of his jumping, but he has a huge kink in him - people never realised the job Paul Nicholls did with Denman, because he was the same.

"Both are chestnuts by Presenting, the best ones all have a kink, he has a massive engine. He's brilliant. He slipped taking off at the first down the back and when he landed I thought 'your luck could be in today'.

"Everything can't go your way all the time and you have to prepare for that."

Graham Wylie (owner): "Today he jumped magnificently, straight as a die, and he settled as well. He was nearly brought down, that was the only worry, he's as clever as Einstein that horse.

"I'm pleased the horse has done himself justice and I'm pleased for Ruby and Willie to give them their first winner."

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Top Notch, said: "He loves it and he would be great for Aintree over two and a half miles if he is OK.

"If you had half a yard full of Top Notch's you could get rid of the rest of them. Life is a pleasure with him. You can set your clock by him. What he lacks in size and scope, the heart is so big he does everything you ask of him.

"It might have been costly (mistake at second-last). He came to attack the race then all of a sudden he lost a bit of momentum, but Ruby gave him (Yorkhill) a brilliant ride. We all knew he was the horse we had to beat."