Let's Dance heads for home under Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Let's Dance gave trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh a remarkable four-timer on day three of the Cheltenham Festival when taking her winning run to five in the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Walsh oozed confidence on the 11-8 favourite as he kept the Rich Ricci-owned five-year-old towards the back of the field for most of the race. Verdana Blue led into the straight from Barra but a big leap took Let's Dance to the front and she galloped on strongly up the hill to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Barra. Dusky Legend was a neck away in third.
Mullins said: "We thought this might be the weakest race she was in, even though the trip was short of her best.
"She could go back over a longer trip, she will in time, but when we saw the ratings, this was the race for her."
Ricci was celebrating his first winner of the week, and said: "We're late to the party, but we've brought the music.
"First of all I'm delighted for the staff because there's a £50,000 bonus for them and that's about what the prize-money is, I'm delighted for the yard.
"She's a good mare. Joe Chambers (racing manager) deserves plenty of credit because when she was second to Ivanovich Gorbatov in her maiden last year he said 'why not just campaign her in Grade Ones and if we win great and if not she's still a novice'.
"She ran a great race in the Triumph last year.
"It's such a relief to get one, yesterday was tough (defeat of Douvan), it's been a brutal season but there's no future in history, you've got to keep looking forward.
"This game would tame a lion, it's up and down.
"It would be great to give Willie a Gold Cup with Djakadam tomorrow now."
Walsh said: "What a day, the horses ran well the first two days, they just weren't winning.
"In previous years we were front-loaded and this year we were back-loaded, we knew we had great chances today and we think we have a couple tomorrow.
"We had a standing start and she dwelt a bit, I just couldn't lay up with them. In fairness her jumping was brilliant and got me into a nice position.
"She was always going to stay, our only worry was coming back in trip, she was always going to stay on. She's a very good filly with a nice future.
"It's been a super day for the Irish."
