When I purchased my entradas sueltas for the Mont de Marsan feria on the day they went on sale, it was interesting to note that the festejo most in demand was today’s, featuring the bulls of the Herederos de Celestino Cuadri.

When I went to look at the bulls in the corrales in the morning (Mont de Marsan’s open access to the corrales is a feature other ferias would do well to adopt), the cuadris were their usual heavy-looking, well-armed selves, all but one lying down in stark contrast to the lively bulls of La Quinta next door. But, come the afternoon, most of them came charging strongly into the ring, winning applause for their looks and proving a challenge for their matadors.

It was a delight to see, on the computer screen, Rafaelillo return to Pamplona - the scene of his near-fatal goring in 2019 - earlier this month, dedicate to the doctor who saved his life and then secure a major triumph, cutting three ears. The slight murciano was the triunfador again this afternoon after two strong faenas that contained some of his usual brave scurrying around his bulls, but also some fine sculptured passes with the torero standing still.

After some calm opening capework to his first cuadri, Rafaellilo’s subsequent faena took a lot of effort (including vocally), but he produced some fine muletazos, especially his closing naturales, crowned with a superb pase de pecho, and may well have cut an ear but for the three attempts with the estocada to kill his foe. The highlight of the festejo came with Rafa’s second bull, greeted with half-kneeling verónicas and a larga. The matador indicated that this bull should be given three varas, but, cheerily and apologetically, gave way to the crowd voicing their content with two. The faena, dedicated like the first to the public, was an exhilirating and emotional occasion, Rafaelillo passing the cuadri closely in clean passes and managing to sustain tandas. His enthusiasm for his task meant he went on too long, leading to lengthening periods of vainly urging the bull forwards, but eventually he produced a three-quarters estocada to end things. Confusion then followed, prompted by today’s president apparently lifting his white handkerchief at one point rather than clearly laying it over the shelf in front of him, leading to some in the crowd petitioning for an ear they thought hadn’t been given, while others petitioned for a second oreja! In the end, an alguacilillo had to run out of the ring to retrieve the ear that had been awarded for a beaming Rafaelillo, who was given two vueltas, flowers cascading down.

Octavio Chacón had the more difficult of today’s cuadris - a first animal that was reluctant to charge the muleta, and a second that would charge, but without lowering its head. Chacón began well with some fine capework and set the bull up for some lengthy charges to his picador, only for the piccing to be poor and the horseman whistled. The estocada was a strong one, but the animal required three descabellos before it was felled, its matador receiving palmas. His second cuadri proved better on its right horn than its left, when Octavio resorted to naturales ayudados to take it past. The matador coped well with a bull that kept its head at mid-height, although the muletazos lost impact as a result. Another estocada and three descabellos were needed to end things, Chacón hearing more palmas while his bull was given unmerited applause.

Today was my first sighting of Damian Castaño and, after the lidia of his first bull, in which Castaño appeared to keep as far away from it as possible and seemed somewhat relieved when it damaged a hoof and the faena had to be brought to an early end, I reckoned he was out of his depth. Even the estocadas were cited for a ridiculous distance from the cuadri, Damian receiving pitos after three pinchazos and a media estocada, all given running round the animal, and three descabello attempts.

Things changed with his second bull, however, perhaps the best of the encierro, albeit weak on its forelegs. Castaño’s capework was rapid, but in the faena, the bull humillando nicely, Damian produced some good series of controlled muletazos, particularly to the left horn. Two poor swords and an aviso towards the end cost the Mont de Marsan debutant any trophy, but he did win applause, as did the bull en arrastre.