Mullins left 'a little surprised' as Gentleman De Mee stuns 1-4 stablemate Blue Lord

Not for the first time at the Dublin Racing Festival, Willie Mullins was glad that he ran more than one in a race, as Gentleman De Mee and especially rider Danny Mullins proved the perfect super subs.

Danny Mullins was the beneficiary of the spare ride here – with intended jockey Mark Walsh stood down for the day after taking a heavy fall from Risk Belle in the opening mares' handicap hurdle – and did a superb job on the winner to land his second Grade 1 of the festival after winning the Spring Juvenile Hurdle on Gala Marceau the previous day. 

The jockey later recorded a third top-level success at the meeting with Il Etait Temps in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle.

Mullins went out to try and make the running and expose any weakness in his rivals. Duly taking an early lead, his mount jumped really well throughout, and while his stablemate and 1-4 favourite Blue Lord did his best to make an impression, he was unable to narrow the gap, the winning margin of seven lengths doing full justice to the winner's superiority.

Disappointing this season, Gentleman De Mee had enjoyed a fine novice campaign last term, including a victory over Edwardstone at Aintree, and this was very much a return to his best.

The bookmaker reaction was to trim him to a best-priced 10-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes for the Champion Chase. Blue Lord was pushed out to the same odds with many layers and is a best-priced 9-2 for the Ryanair Chase with bet365.

Danny Mullins and Gentleman De Mee lead Blue Lord trailing at the lastCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The winning rider said: “If you look at this horse winning around Aintree last year, he has a serious engine. He didn't perform in the Tingle Creek or here at Christmas for whatever reason, but once he started racing in the back straight, that is what you like to see from a two-miler. It gave me a chance to keep a bit of petrol for the business end and he was very good.

“He was able to sit on Dunvegan's girth early, where as a younger horse he would have just torn away from them. That bit of maturity has stood to him and helps him compete at this level. He might just deserve his crack now at the Champion Chase.”

The result was not what the champion trainer was expecting. 

Willie Mullins said: “Yes, I'm a little surprised. I was disappointed with Blue Lord but very pleased with Gentleman De Mee and with Danny. He was very brave on him. He asked him everywhere down the back and the horse was loving it. I thought it was a terrific performance. I was very pleased with his last piece of work on Thursday, it was as good a piece of work as I've seen from him.

“I think perhaps the drier ground here suited him better than it did Blue Lord, who had a hard race here at Christmas and Paul thought that might have had an effect. 

"I haven't really thought about the Champion Chase, but Energumene is still the one from our stable to beat. But you need plenty of horses for those races and they are both entitled to take their chance, although there is also every chance Blue Lord might step up in trip.”

Read these next: 

Davy Russell rides first Grade 1 winner since shock return as Mighty Potter dominates novice chase 

'It's made me frustrated and angry - I've been taking it to bed and not sleeping properly' 

Make the most of the jumps with 50% off Members' Club for the rest of the season 

Take the Big Punting Survey to be entered into a free prize draw to win one of five £50 Amazon vouchers. Click here for more details.