Ruby Walsh believes it will take a miracle at Punchestown for Willie Mullins to retain the Irish trainers' championship.
Mullins has endured an injury-plagued campaign with his string and trails Gordon Elliott by around 390,000 euros ahead of next week's five-day Punchestown Festival.
Proceedings start on Tuesday and Walsh feels that the veteran handler will need to pull out all the stops to take the title.
“In golfing terms, Willie is probably six down with seven to play,” he told the Irish Examiner. “He needs to birdie everything and possibly,pick up an eagle or two along the way.”
However, the 37-year-old Cheltenham specialist is refusing to rule out the Closutton handler making a late dash for the line.
“But, in all sports, there have been miracle comebacks,” he added. “Be it the Super Bowl this year, Liverpool 3-0 three down to Milan at half-time in a European Cup final, Barcelona out of sight behind PSG and, to follow the golf theme, there was the Miracle in Medinah.
“If Willie overtakes Gordon, it will be the Miracle of Punchestown.”
