Five stars in World domination
Ruby Walsh had promised he would ride him to get the trip and was as good as his word, as he waited well off the solid pace set by English challenger, Roll Along.
Walsh began to edge closer entering the final mile and Fiveforthree came there cantering on the heels of the leaders heading to the final turn.
When Walsh asked his partner to go about his work, the response was readily forthcoming. The grey powered to the front heading to the final flight and then surged away on the level to beat Pettifour by seven lengths.
“He did what I hoped he’d do”, said trainer, Willie Mullins, who has enjoyed an extraordinary season.
“He has a lot of class and the trip was no problem. I can’t see any point in staying hurdling and he will definitely be chasing next season.
“This was only his seventh run over hurdles and he could be anything. He’s just had niggling little problems.
“Maybe, they were all for the better and gave him time to mature. He will probably now go for the French Champion Hurdle (Auteuil) in June.”
Reflecting on the campaign he has enjoyed, Mullins said: “I have never had one like this. The horses have stayed healthy all season, there was hardly a cough in the yard.”
Cashmans gave Fiveforthree a 10-1 quote for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, while William Hill offered 8-1.
Mullins also took the other Grade 1 on the card, the Cathal Ryan Memorial Novice Chase, with Barker.
David Casey had the ride, with Walsh settling on stable companion, Deutschland, and never had a moment’s worry.
Barker winged his fences and Casey allowed him to lead over the fourth from home. Forpadydeplaster tried to close, but was already beginning to struggle when blundering badly two out.
Mullins said: “I was worried two miles might be short for him, the way he is bred, but his jumping is spectacular.
“He’s improving and, the way he jumps, anything is possible. I’d say he’s finished for the season, I don’t see much more for him.”
Mullins’ Jessies Dream was all the rage - as high as 5-2 in the morning, returned at 2-1 - for the Aon Insurances Hurdle.
He delivered in style, after getting a typically patient drive by Walsh. The winner made all when scoring at Thurles previously, but this was a much tougher assignment and Walsh dropped him in.
Jessies Dream still had a wall of horses in front of him approaching the turn in, but soon stormed through to challenge.
He was in front going to the last and, though awkward at the obstacle, lengthened away to score by four lengths.
Said Mullins: “He’s a tough horse to ride and tends to be free, but Ruby got him settled. I’d imagine he will go novice chasing next season and may have one more run, before going out on grass.”
Mullins then rounded of a day of days when Quel Esprit completed a four-timer for the trainer with an effortless success in the Bumper.
Patrick Mullins had the ride and this was over once he pushed the heavily-backed odds-on shot ahead over a furlong down.
Said Mullins senior: “I think this is a very good horse and I’m not sure if I will put him straight over fences next season. He’s a huge galloper and did well to win off a slow pace.”
It was Patrick’s 49th of the season and he has now finally broken Ted Walsh’s post-war record for the number of wins for an amateur rider.
Trainer-Mullins’ total for the week stands at eight, three of them Grade 1’s, with Walsh on six successes.
Enda Bolger, the king of the banks races at Punchestown, did it again when Garde Champetre produced a decent weight-carrying display to land the Avon Ri Corporate and Leisure Resort Chase.
He had no less than 12-7 in the plate, but made light of it, under a delightful Nina Carberry drive.
She had the favourite tracking the pace throughout, until giving Garde Champetre the office to go on approaching the final fence.
Commented Bolger: “I thought he was in trouble about the third last, but his class got him there.”
Garde Champetre is owned by J P McManus, watching at home in Martinstown Stud in Limerick, as he recovers from prostate cancer.
Bolger added: “This is a great lift for everyone. J P has been my biggest supporter and I’m sure the party will be on at Martinstown tonight!”
Robert Tyner’s Square Sphere, far from neglected in the morning at around 14-1 and returned at 7-1, buckled down in terrific style to take the Naas Court Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Giving Davy Russell his first success of the week, Square Sphere was none too clever over the final flight, but still found enough on the level to beat Rocco’s Hall by a neck.
“She’s a dinger”, said Tyner. “She won a point-to-point in November and has gone from strength to strength.
“She’s tough and we were very confident today, when she got her ground. That’s it for the season.”
Blueberry Boy, who threatened to be a half-decent horse at one stage, cropped up at 16-1 in the Irish Sun Handicap Chase.
Taken to the front going to four out by Conor Maxwell, the ten-year-old made the rest to beat Hairy Molly with plenty in hand.
* The attendance was 16,193, down from 17,240 last year. The bookmakers were down €783,000 compared to a year ago.
