Punchestown Festival:Ruby Walsh had to be content with a double rather than a treble after the last of his much-fancied mounts Colldine faded badly in this evening's Boylesports.com Champion Novice Steeplechase at Punchestown. Walsh had already won comfortably on board Hurricane Fly but was pushed all the way by Big Zeb when on Master Minded in the Kerrygold Champion Chase.
He looked in control on Willie Mullins's Cooldine for much of the three-mile-one-furlong trip, but Paddy Flood and Rare Bob, who waited patiently on his shoulder, emerged the stronger and Walsh was pushed back into fourth.
The 7-1 shot travelled nicely to join the leader early in the straight and, after jumping the final fence well, he stayed on strongly to score by a length and three-quarters from Gone To Lunch.
Joncol made a couple of bad mistakes, but plugged on well to claim third spot.
“Ruby said he ran flat all the way round,” Mullins said afterwards. “It could be the end of long season - or the fact we tried different tactics with him.
“We’ll give him a break now and bring him home.”
Rare Bob was last seen running a huge race when fourth in the Irish National at Fairyhouse.
Trainer Dessie Hughes said: “He’s been a marvellous horse from the first day I saw him at the sales, and he’s come to himself now.
“He has done everything right this season, but we kept him especially for this.
“It was a bit too early for that (Irish National), but he ran a blinder.
“The Irish National has really made a man of him,” added Hughes. “He’s a Grade One horse now and hopefully he’ll continue to be so.”
It was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful day for Walsh, though Paul Nicholls’s Master Minded was given quite a scare by Big Zeb.
He was always shadowed by Barry Geraghty’s mount but looked comfortable after the last when Biz Zeb charged through the fence.
The 100-30 favourite was not out of trouble though and Geraghty piled on the pressure but just missed out by a nose at the post.
"The runner-up missed the last, which didn't help him, but Master Minded just half-pricked his ears a little bit," Nicholls said of the Clive Smith-owned winner. "I said to Ruby let him bowl along in front and I think he just gets a bit idle.
"Last year at Cheltenham he got a real fast-run race and I think he could probably do with a bit of company and a good gallop.
"It's the back-end of the season and I thought he looked as well as he's looked for a long time."
Walsh opened his festival with a win on Mullins's Hurricane Fly, who further enhanced his massive reputation with a hugely impressive display in the Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
He was forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival, having failed to recover from a splint injury in time, but was sent off the 4-6 favourite to gain some compensation.
Always travelling well for Ruby, the five-year-old did not get a clear run turning for home, but still arrived hard on the bridle.
Once hitting the front at the final obstacle, he only had to be nudged out by Walsh, and showed a fantastic turn of foot to beat stablemate Kempes by seven lengths.
“He had done a bit of work earlier in the week, and I was afraid to say he was better than he had been all year," Mullins said. “It seemed incredible to us at home, but he did a fantastic piece of work under Ruby (Walsh) and he has given him a super ride.
“He just sat and waited but once he got going, he was fine.
“I’m not sure what we are going to do now.
“We’ll just enjoy this and see how he comes out of it.”
Victor Chandler cut him into 9-2 favourite (from 6-1) for next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.