'I wonder how significant her wins on Allaho and Sir Gerhard will prove'

'The magic Mullins touch has rubbed off'

The Mullins name is synonymous with the Cheltenham Festival, but the 2021 edition was not all about Willie thanks to the exploits of his nephews Danny, who claimed a memorable Stayers' Hurdle triumph on Flooring Porter, and Emmet, who saddled The Shunter to win the Paddy Power Plate and with it a £100,000 bonus.

The latter, successful on Willie's Sir Des Champs in the Martin Pipe at the 2011 festival, has had four winners from just six runners in Britain this season, pocketing £152,671 in prize-money, thanks largely to The Shunter, who landed Cheltenham's Greatwood Hurdle before the Morebattle at Kelso, which set him up for the big aforementioned bonus should he strike during the festival.

His connections had a choice of five races, but took dead aim at the Plate and the eight-year-old won in style under emerging rider Jordan Gainford.