Fall of superstar Samcro ends title race and leaves Mullins as champion again

In a moment that summed up this week's astonishing drama, Samcro, the young horse billed as jump racing's second coming, crashed out at Punchestown's third-last hurdle, ending his trainer Gordon Elliott's hopes of being Ireland's champion handler for the first time and guaranteeing rival Willie Mullins an 11th consecutive title.

Melon, the leading hope of Mullins' four challengers for the Betdaq-sponsored Punchestown Champion Hurdle, fell independently under Paul Townend at the same flight when racing alongside Samcro.

However, euros earned by his stable companions in the same race made it mathematically impossible for Elliott to secure the crown he had so craved.

Both fallers were reported to be unscathed, and although Samcro left the scene of the accident in an ambulance that was purely a precautionary measure.

"It was just one of them things," said Samcro's jockey Jack Kennedy. "He actually jumped the hurdle great but slipped at the back of it. He's none the worse for it, that's the main thing."

Watch the race replay here, with full result and analysis

It was announced shortly after the contest that Mullins, who had started the festival €521,413 behind the Gigginstown House Stud-backed Elliott, had secured an unassailable lead of €550,648, thus completing a comeback even more amazing than the one that enabled him to overhaul Elliott 12 months ago.

"You couldn't make up what's going on this week," said Mullins, now closing in on €6 million of prize-money this season. "The racing is fantastic and there's lots of drama."

There had been scarcely believable drama on Tuesday evening, when Townend steered Al Boum Photo into the wings of the final fence when the Mullins-trained chaser was leading in the Grade 1 novices' event. That also carried out Finian's Oscar and gifted Elliott a one-two-three.

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have dominated the Irish seasonCredit: Caroline Norris

However, Mullins then landed six of Wednesday's seven events, while across the meeting so far he has been responsible for the winners of seven Grade 1s.

"Going home in the car on Tuesday evening wasn't a nice feeling and I'm sure Gordon went home on Wednesday with a similar feeling," said Mullins.

"We had a Grade 1 go up in smoke and Gordon had the first, second and third. I thought that was it. I said to people that we can't come back from that, but then Wednesday and the way that day worked out was unprecedented.

"After the second race today Gordon was the first man to congratulate me. Obviously I’m pleased to win, but I don’t take any pleasure from beating Gordon because he is such a great competitor and I know how he’ll be feeling.

"It's a tough position to be in when you know your chance is gone. It's not nice at all, and I know that because we've experienced it in the past when we were up against Noel Meade."

Asked about Samcro, Elliott said: "It's a sickener, but what can you do? We gave him a trot and he's okay."

On his championship defeat, Elliott said he had "a wonderful season", and added: "We'll be there to fight another day. It's a great game to level you but we'll keep smiling and keep going. I have brilliant owners, brilliant horses and brilliant staff.

Gordon Elliott has been supported by Michael O'Leary all seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's a credit to Willie Mullins. We'll just have to put our head down and keep trying. It starts again on Sunday and we'll go again."

Mullins, who has earned enough prize-money this week to have finished second in the championship even if he had started the week with nothing, was also keen to praise those who have again kept him at the top of his profession.

"I have a great team of owners and I have magnificent staff, but having great opposition is what raises the bar for everyone," he said, adding: "I hope this trainers' championship has been good for racing."

It surely has been.

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