By Tommy Lyons

Jockey Ruby Walsh has admitted his surprise at the late decision by trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci to run Vautour in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup, on Friday.

Although it may prove something of a positive to Walsh, whose decision on whether to ride Djakadam or Vautour in the Blue Riband event is no longer an issue, the rider revealed: “It is a surprise to me, as I hadn’t asked, but that’s what Willie has decided to do with him.

“I heard Willie saying on The Morning Line that he always had it in the back of his mind, and has now made the decision. That’s why he’s the trainer.

“Vautour was very good over the course and distance in last season’s JLT (Novice Chase) at this meeting, so hopefully he will put in a similar performance this year.”

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Willie Mullins explains why Vautour goes from the Gold Cup to the Ryanair Chase... #MorningLine https://t.co/Kay8i980UW

— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 15, 2016

Of Ricci’s concern the horse “hasn’t been pulling up trees in his work,” Walsh added: “You’d love him to be working the house down, but, to be fair, he worked a bit better the weekend, and the ground is drying, which will suit.”

Having the ten-time Irish Champion Jockey on Vautour was a factor in the decision, Mullins revealed to The Morning Line: “I probably had it in the back of my mind all along, and Ruby can only ride one of them and I was keen for Ruby to ride him.

“We were all keen to go for the Gold Cup but the last day we were here Djakadam got a bad cut, had 23 or 24 stitches in his chest, and we didn’t know that he’d make the Gold Cup.

“Only in the last week did we get enough work into him, and were happy. And I started to think

differently, but I never said anything to Rich until yesterday … and this morning we decided that’s the way we were going to go.

“We were going for the Gold Cup but now Djakadam has arrived here and we’re happy with him, so we’ve changed tack.”

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