The ultra-consistent Min enjoyed a deserved day in the sun at The Festival™ presented by Magners with victory in the Gr1 Ryanair Chase.
Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, the nine-year-old was all-out to secure a neck success at 2/1 in the £350,000 event, seeing off the gallant Saint Calvados (16/1).
Min shows who is boss
The 7/4 favourite A Plus Tard was a length and a half behind in third.
On his fourth appearance at The Festival, this was Min’s first success at the meeting with his other efforts including second-placed finishes in both the Gr1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2016) and Gr1 Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase (2017).
In a remarkable career, Min is now a six-time Gr1 winner and has also finished runner-up in six Gr1 contests.
Closutton maestro Mullins was recording his second victory of the week and 67th winner in total at The Festival.
He said: “It was a good performance from Min and he likes to race from the front.
“We got the tactics wrong on him last year [finished fifth, Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase] and it didn’t work out. We changed things up this year and learnt our lesson – here he is now back at the top table.
“Min threw a wonderful leap in at the last and it was a great effort.
“Watching him jump today, he was just fantastic through the air and, when he needed a jump, he got them. He put the others under pressure.
“It was probably wobbly knee time after the last when Saint Calvados came up the inside but he still had a little bit left in the tank. I am pleased for him, Paul, Rich, Susannah and everyone.The horses have been running well and just haven’t been getting the rub of the green.
Faugheen and Melon ran great earlier and all the horses seem to be firing without winning.Watching him jump today, he was just fantastic through the air and, when he needed a jump, he got them. He put the others under pressure. It was probably wobbly knee time after the last when Saint Calvados came up the inside but he still had a little bit left in the tank. I am pleased for him, Paul, Rich, Susannah and everyone.
“Paul is very cool. I think he forgets the last race and his attitude is ‘next race, let’s get on and concentrate on that’. He concentrates on what he has to do.
“I wondered whether Min just gets that trip and if that is the extent of his ability. I think he could go back to two miles but this seems to be his optimum trip.”
