Willie Mullins turns a corner as Invitation Only runs out a taking winner in Thyestes and Cilaos Emery enters Arkle picture
Invitation Only is now 25-1 for the Gold Cup with Cilaos Emery as short as 7-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham
WILLIE MULLINS admitted his stables form had concerned him but appeared to turn a corner with two big wins at Gowran Park.
Invitation Only battled to a taking Thyestes victory before Cilaos Emery entered the Arkle frame on chase debut.
Presenting Percy may have been the star on show but Willie Mullins showed why you can never forget the powerhouse trainer.
Invitation Only provided Willie Mullins with a seventh victory in the Goffs Thyestes Chase.
The Closutton maestro fired a formidable eight-pronged assault and Invitation Only was the 4-1 favourite in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
The eight-year-old raced close to the pace throughout the three-mile-one-furlong contest and tracked the Gordon Elliott-trained Alpha Des Obeaux into the home straight before powering clear under Ruby Walsh.
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Mullins said: "It was a good performance. I just thought he might be ahead of the handicapper going out to three miles, and so it's turned out. I'm very happy.
"I was a bit worried with the way a few of ours are running that he might get to the second-last and then stop. He was travelling so well with Ruby going down to the third-last he took a pull and then just waited and waited."
Invitation Only was cut to around 25-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and his trainer added: "We'll see what the handicapper does, but he'll get an entry for the Gold Cup and the Grand National after that run.
"The Gold Cup will be a searching test and I think he'd be improving as he gets towards Cheltenham."
Later on the card Cilaos Emery threw his hat into a windy Arkle at Cheltenham after an eye-catching win in the PMF Beginners Chase.
He jumped well throughout and couldn't have done much more on chase debut in a strong field.
With Mullins team for the big one yet to pan out, the Dublin Racing Festival next weekend could help clear the picture.