CHELTENHAM —Ruby Walsh set up his date with leading Gold Cup contender Djakadam by celebrating a record 50th Cheltenham Festival winner Thursday.
Walsh reached the half century at the National Hunt showcase on the Willie Mullins-trained Black Hercules in the opening JLT Chase.
On St Patrick's Day, the Irish master horseman went on to make it win number 51 — and sixth of the week — on Vautour in the Ryanair Chase.
Walsh, speaking after co-favorite Black Hercules outmuscled Bristol de Mai up the long climb to the line Walsh said: "It's amazing. When I joined Pat Taaffe here on 25 (winners), I thought that was unbelievable, but 50 is incredible.
"I've been lucky round here. I'm in the privileged position to ride for Willie Mullins now and Paul Nicholls in the past and without people like that behind you, you wouldn't get anywhere near that number.
"I'm the lucky guy who gets to steer the ship."
Mullins said: "Ruby's first ever ride for me was in a 19-runner bumper and he came from last to first and I said then he was the future — 50 winners is fantastic, he's always in the right place."
Such was the authority with which even money favorite Vautour outclassed his rivals half an hour later Mullins and owner Rich Ricci may have had second thoughts on the wisdom of the switch to the less demanding Ryanair from the gold Cup.
After Vautour's third Festival win in three different races Mullins said: "He hadn't been exactly delighting me in his work and it is amazing to see him do a performance like that."
He disclosed with a grin that his last words to Walsh before the race were: "Make it 51 please."
Walsh's personal milestone and Vautour's electric six length success were among the highlights of the third day of the 2016 meeting which also saw Thistlecrack land the World Hurdle in great style.
After his emphatic six length win over Alpha des Obeaux trainer Colin Tizzard said: "He's turned from quite a nice horse into a superstar."
Winning jockey Tom Scudamore said: "I was always very confident, what a racehorse."
The even money favorite was giving a timely boost to his stable who have a live chance of landing the Gold Cup with leading British fancy Cue Card.
Should Walsh hit the Gold Cup bullseye on Djakadam it will be a perfect end to a sensational week in which he also landed Tuesday's Champion Hurdle on stablemate Annie Power.
