Dinoblue (6-4 Favourite) brought up a Gold Cup Day treble for Willie Mullins when taking the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

With her stable companion Allegorie De Vassey falling at the last, the winner was left to come home eight and a half lengths clear of Brides Hill.

Winning owner J P McManus said: “She’s a much better mare on good ground. Mark said she loved it out there and loved the surface, whereas last year she found it tough. She’s been at it a while now, so her jumping should be good!”

Willie Mullins said: “Both of them (Allegorie De Vassy and Paul Townend) look ok, but I was just watching from the stands.”

“She (Dinoblue) ran a great race last year and it didn’t work out, today everything worked out for her.

"I’m just sorry for Allegorie De Vassy, she’d run a cracker of a race. She was jumping too big, would have preferred a bit of company up the front with her, I think. Might have just had her a little bit sharper. She was just ballooning fences and once I saw her doing that early in play, I didn’t think she could be still challenging going to the last, because that takes a lot of energy out of them. Keeping fingers crossed that Paul is ok for the big one.”

Winning jockey Mark Walsh said: “Last year people said I gave her too much to do, but I actually couldn’t go on the heavy ground. Today she travelled well and jumped brilliantly, and I’m delighted she got her head in front. I popped her in behind Paul Townend and made sure I stayed on his left. She jumps off the good ground so much better than the heavy ground.

“I think she probably wants this trip now - she hasn’t the pace for two miles anymore. I think two and a half miles is her trip now.”

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of the second Brides Hill, said: “We will take second on this occasion as iff Allegorie De Vassy hadn’t fallen at the last we would have been third. She ran a great race, but the winner was a very good winner. She was on their coat tails coming down the hill, but they just quickened away from her. I thought the last day she would win, but that was a good run and I expected her to run well. We might go onto Punchestown now.

“I suppose slower ground would suit Limerick Lace. I don’t know what we will do with her. She did a lovely bit of work 10 days ago.

“I suppose we were optimistic coming here, but on the evidence of her form this season she hasn’t come back the same mare.”

Gordon Elliott, who saddled the third Shecouldbeanything, said: “She ran a great race again and I’m very happy. She does fall slightly short of those top mares, but she has loads of experience now.

“I thought she ran above herself and we will probably go to the Irish Grand National now.”

Willie Mullins – 112 Festival wins
Mark Walsh – 13 Festival wins