A weekend that had the potential to yield some key Cheltenham clues for several Willie Mullins’ charges was instead a rather abortive one as the trainer drew a rare blank on his latest foray to England.

All eyes were on the trainer’s Gold Cup favourite Djakadam as he journeyed to Cheltenham on his final outing before the festival showpiece. However, having jumped superbly and travelled well, the seven-year-old came to grief at the 10th fence and sustained a flesh wound at the top of his chest which required stitching. A fall ahead of the Gold Cup and, an albeit superficial flesh wound, was far from an ideal Gold Cup preparation.

Even so, this fall should not be held against Djakadam. His second in last year’s Gold Cup is a standout piece of form and if his trainer gets him to March in peak form, he will surely mount a bold bid for victory. In an interesting piece of symmetry, the great Dawn Run, who was trained by Mullins’ late father, Paddy, fell in the very same race before claiming that never-to-be-forgotten Gold Cup triumph 30 years ago.

Elsewhere, Mullins sent leading staying novice hurdler Up For Review and the hitherto unbeaten novice chaser Shaneshill to Doncaster on Saturday but both were well beaten and performed way below their abilities. In short, this was a rather inconclusive weekend for several luminaries of the Mullins yard.

There was better news elsewhere though as the Mullins-trained Limini won a Grade 3 mares novice hurdle at Fairyhouse with any amount to spare. On her first start since May, she confirmed that she will surely be a leading player for Cheltenham’s latest edition, the Trull House Stud Mares Novice Hurdle on the Thursday. She will need to brush up her jumping but will surely progress well from what was her first run for almost nine months.

To stay with novice hurdlers, the exciting Min saw his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle claims further endorsed when Ball D’Arc, one of the horses he annihilated last month, won a listed novice hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Nonetheless, any thoughts that the Irish novice hurdlers could carry all before them at Cheltenham were dispelled on Saturday with the ultra impressive display produced by Yanworth across the Irish Sea on Saturday afternoon. It will take quite an effort from one of the raiders if his colours are to be lowered in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle.

Of the other action from the weekend, the front-running victory of Bonny Kate in a Grand National Trial at Punchestown on Sunday caught the eye. This mare was having just her fourth start over fences but was much too strong for her seasoned rivals. She produced an immaculate round of jumping from the front and appeals as one that could go very well in the Irish Grand National late next month if pointed in that direction.