Shield books place in Bumper

Shield booked his place in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when landing yesterday’s finale at Leopardstown.

The Dylan Thomas gelding, ridden to a narrow victory over favourite Grecian Tiger by Kate Harrington, will be Aidan O’Brien’s first Cheltenham runner since Istabraq eleven years ago and will be a first Festival ride for champion flat jockey Joseph O’Brien.

Shield’s win proved the highlight on a day when both Ruby Walsh and Paul Townend were sore after falls in the chase action, opting out of the after racing work. Walsh sustained an ankle injury and Townend was advised to have a shoulder x-rayed. But Willie Mullins seemed relieved that neither injury looked serious.