Willie Mullins closes in on Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 clean sweep after easy El Fabiolo win

El Fabiolo hardened to 4-9 favouritism for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a commanding performance to maintain his unbeaten record over fences under Paul Townend and all roads now lead to Cheltenham for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's star chaser.

With four of the five runners, the other three owned by JP McManus, Willie Mullins was always likely to dominate the race. It was a little tactical, as the mare Dinoblue made the running at an initially steady pace in attempting to bag a fifth straight success under Mark Walsh, and El Fabiolo raced quite keenly early on, but he eventually settled and the result was not in doubt from some way out.

His jumping, which might have been perceived as an achilles heel at one stage of his career, was foot perfect apart from one slight mistake, and an eight-length success from Dinoblue was a reflection of his superiority. Captain Guinness was held up off the pace and came home a staying-on third, a further six lengths back.

Townend said: “He was a little buzzy early on but that's just him. He missed one down the back but one good jump put me back in the race, and I was in control of it from there. They didn't go that fast out of the traps and I was able to get a bit of cover.

“He's a monster, a huge horse and has loads of power. He's just so straightforward.”

El Fabiolo: stretched clear of stablemate Dinoblue

El Fabiolo stretches clear of stablemate DinoblueCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com)

El Fabiolo will head to Cheltenham for a third clash with Jonbon with the score 1-1 between them after Jonbon beat him in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree in 2022 before El Fabiolo got his revenge in last season's Arkle.

But the contrast between their respective preparations could not be more stark after Jonbon's defeat at 1-4 by Elixir De Nutz in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last month and he was pushed out to 4-1 second favourite by bet365.

Mullins, saddling his seventh Grade 1 winner of the meeting, said: “That was everything I wanted and more. He jumped really well. Dinoblue worked very well during the week and I thought that if he [El Fabiolo] made any mistake she would definitely give him a race.

"Mark Walsh was very happy with her and she was able to give him a fair test. It was not a freebie for El Fabiolo by any means as he had to give her 7lb. But it was a good race and he beat her emphatically.

"He was very clean today and very good. Paul was able to sit very quiet on him and the horse appreciated that I think, and he did his job.”

Dinoblue is now third favourite for the Champion Chase at 7-1 with bet365 but the same firm cut her to 11-10 favourite (from 5-4) for the mares' chase at Cheltenham.

Mullins added: “I'm very happy that all of the owners are here today. They love coming to Ireland to race. They've raced extensively in France and Britain but they say the experience of racing here is way better. The appreciation Irish people have for racing is huge, which you don't get in other countries. They'll go home very happy.”

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Cheltenham, March 13)

bet365: 2-5 El Fabiolo, 4 Jonbon, 7 Dinoblue, 16 Edwardstone, Ferny Hollow, 20 Boothill, Elixir De Nutz, 25 bar

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