Unstoppable: Willie Mullins edges out Elliott for eighth festival title

Willie Mullins pipped Gordon Elliott to the festival trainers' title for the second year running after a see-saw day that saw the Irish champion overturn a three winner deficit after the first three days.

The two trainers finished with seven winners apiece and six seconds, but Mullins secured his eighth title courtesy of two more third places.

The title was in the balance right to the end with Elliott still favourite to top the table for a third time in four years going into the final race of the meeting.

His hopes disappeared when Column Of Fire fell at the last when preparing to challenge for the lead in the Martin Pipe, and Mullins made sure with another third from 40-1 chance Great White Shark.

Mullins, who saddled eight winners at the 2015 festival, had also snatched the title from Elliott last year when they tied on four winners apiece by dint of having one more runner-up.

After Mullins won the first four races and saddled the second in the St James's Place Foxhunter, the contest looked over but Elliott hit back with Chosen Mate under a typically canny Davy Russell ride in the Grand Annual.

Victory in the first four races at odds of 2,196-1 on Friday, capped by the Gold Cup success of Al Boum Photo, propelled Mullins ahead for the first time at the meeting.

The Irish champion had gone 13 races without a winner before winning the bumper after which he was a 28-1 chance as Gordon Elliott strode clear to finish on six winners after the first three days, double the score of Mullins.

McManus's handicap clean-sweep

JP McManus failed to land an unprecedented clean sweep of the five handicap hurdles at this year's festival when his two runners in the Martin Pipe failed to give the leading owner an eighth winner over the four days.

Front Row started 4-1 favourite but could finish only 12th and his other runner Ilikedwayuthinking was four places ahead of him but well beaten by Paul Webber's first festival winner Indefatigible.

McManus handicap roll of honour

Coral Cup Dame De Compagnie
Boodles Juvenile Aramax
Pertemps Sire Du Berlais
County Hurdle Saint Roi

They think it's all over – it is now

Goshen's defeat in the Triumph all but ended Britain's chances of berating Ireland in the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup and four more Irish winners before a home win from Paul Webber saw a final score of 17-10.

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