'I tried to keep away from it all, otherwise you couldn't get through it' - Willie Mullins wins an exhilarating but exhausting battle

It was just after 3pm on the season's final day and for the very first time in a 12-month race Willie Mullins was in front. The successful defence of his British trainers' championship now looked all but guaranteed, yet more than anything, Mullins had the air of a man who was utterly exhausted.

Gaelic Warrior's win in the Oaksey Chase had left him only £2,635 behind Dan Skelton. Kitzbuhel finishing third in the following race then nudged him ahead but the vast majority of his battalion had still to be unleashed. To say things were looking promising would be an understatement.

"Can I just shake your hand, sir," said a racegoer to Mullins as he walked towards the pre-parade ring. Mullins obliged and then stopped to satisfy another man's selfie request. In the next interaction he was told that, at last, his name sat at the top of table. He carried on walking but exhaled long and loud.