Shock winner Relegate raises Walsh family spirits at end of difficult day

Katie Walsh and Relegate are led in after their 25-1 success in the Weatherbys Champion BumperCredit: Patrick McCann

A difficult day for the Walsh family ended on a brighter note when Katie Walsh brought 25-1 chance Relegate from last to first to lead home a Willie Mullins one-two-three in a race the stable has dominated since 1996.

However, while thrilled at riding a third festival winner on the mare after a gap of eight years she struggled to hold back the tears when reflecting upon the sight of screens being erected around her brother Ruby barely three hours earlier.

"I'm torn a bit, to be honest," she said. "I'm a very emotional person anyway.

"I really appreciate days like this, but at the back of my mind I'm feeling sorry for Ruby. I saw behind the screens that he was up and he was talking, so that's the main thing. And it's not as bad as it first seemed, I think. It could be an awful lot worse."

Relegate and Katie Walsh (leading) on their way to winning the Weatherbys Champion BumperCredit: Mark Cranham

Explaining the waiting tactics on Relegate, which threatened to backfire at halfway, she said: "I just wanted to give her a chance to get home. I've ridden in this race a good few times for Willie and been handy and it hasn't worked out.

"She's not over-big and I knew she wanted a bit of room, and so we chanced our arm. Down the back I was struggling – I was flat to the boards all the way – but the further we went the better she was going, and I knew she'd finish well. When she met the rising ground she took off, thankfully."

Walsh also bought and sold runner-up Carefully Selected, on whom Danny Mullins replaced her brother and stole a five-length lead at the start which he held until collared close home.

The trainer, saddling a ninth winner of the bumper and a fifth of the meeting, said: "Katie actually sold me Carefully Selected, and then she's come and beat him! She had him as a point-to-pointer but sold him thinking he'd be a nice horse for the future."

He added: "There was no time in the last month I thought Relegate would win, but she has a lovely pedigree and Paul [McKeon, owner], with Colm Murphy, is putting together a nice broodmare band.

"They've hit the jackpot here. And she's Paul's first runner at Cheltenham."

WILLIE MULLINS BUMPER WINNERS

Year Horse SP

1996 Wither Or Which 11-4

1997 Florida Pearl 6-1

1998 Alexander Banquet 9-1

2000 Joe Cullen 14-1

2005 Missed That 7-2f

2008 Cousin Vinny 12-1

2012 Champagne Fever 16-1

2013 Briar Hill 25-1

2018 Relegate 25-1