Ruby Walsh: 'Min was a wonderful horse who was part of a wonderful era'

Willie Mullins has admitted Min will be a very hard horse to replace in Closutton, while Ruby Walsh has described him as "a wonderful horse" following news that the seven-time Grade 1 winner has been retired.

Just a few days after Altior's retirement was announced – the horse who deprived him of two further victories at the Cheltenham Festival – the 2020 Ryanair winner has followed him down the same path as an injury picked up in the 2021 edition has not cleared up.

Min won half of his 24 starts and, while his best performance according to Racing Post ratings came in the 2019 Melling Chase when he powered up the Aintree home straight to beat Politologue by 20 lengths, he was also the only horse to have won three John Durkan Chases at Punchestown.

Min took it to the max

24 races
12 wins
6 seconds
3 number of times he was beaten by Altior
172 highest official rating
178 highest RPR (2019 JLT Chase at Aintree)
£966,873 career earnings

Walsh was in the saddle for seven of Min's wins, and also partnered him to chase home Altior in a vintage 2016 running of the Supreme.

He said: "Min was a wonderful horse who was part of a wonderful era. It was unlucky for Min that it was the same era as Altior but for racing you need two and it was great. He was a really, really good horse and he had some great days.

"His performance at Aintree was outstanding but he had some terrific days and to win three John Durkans takes some doing."

Mullins also heaped praise upon Min and stressed he was a very hard horse to tame when on song.

Min and Ruby Walsh at full stretch over the last fence when winning the John Durkan Memorial ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

The champion trainer said: "Min was a brilliant horse and it is very hard to replace horses like him. They don't come around too often. When conditions were right for him, he was a very hard horse to pass and we had some great days with him."

Willie's son Patrick was on board Min when he completed his hat-trick in the John Durkan last December, emerging out of dense fog at Punchestown to beat stablemate Tornado Flyer by a length. It proved to be his 12th and final victory.

Patrick, who described Min's jumping that day as electric, was disgusted to learn afterwards that he wouldn't be able to see much of the replay due to the thickness of the fog. The all-time leading amateur gave a special mention to Dick Dowling in his own personal tribute to the star chaser.

"Min was a horse with rare consistency and bundles of class," he said. "He gave me one of the thrills of my career winging around Punchestown in the fog last December. Dick Dowling, our head man, looked after him and rode him every day and he’ll be much missed in Closutton."

Altior (black): beat Min (pink) in the 2016 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick Racing Photography

Min was sent off 15-8 favourite for the 2016 Supreme but could only get within seven lengths of Altior. Back in third that day, a further length-and-a-half behind, was subsequent dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air. It was the highest quality running of the race in the last decade.

Min, who missed the Arkle won by Altior in 2017, won four of his first five outings over fences but was once again runner-up to the Nicky Henderson-trained superstar in the 2018 Champion Chase.

He was fourth in the same race 12 months later but deservedly had his day in the sun at Cheltenham in 2020 when he dug deep under Paul Townend to see off Saint Calvados by a neck.

Read more:

Bookmakers fear Envoi Allen for Gold Cup after news of Monkfish injury

Star chaser Monkfish ruled out for season and Mullins stalwart Min retired

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'I only run what we think will win' – Lyons chasing Newmarket Group 1 double

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