Mullins invokes his inner William Wallace and finally unleashes his defence

Willie Mullins has done a fair impression this season of William Wallace as depicted so famously by Mel Gibson in Braveheart at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. As the English cavalry charged towards him, Mullins would not budge.

“Hold, hold, hold!” he implored his legion of troops as Jonbon, My Drogo, Constitution Hill, Bravemansgame and Champ thundered toward him with great gusto. I’d include Ahoy Senor and Edwardstone in that list too but Lucinda Russell and Alan King might not appreciate their place in the metaphor.

Anyway, with Cheltenham beginning to inch into view, Mullins has finally given the order to defend his patch. “NOW!” he will doubtless scream as he sends his brother George’s lorries scattering to the four winds on Sunday morning. Things could be about to get messy.