The ambition of Vilau and Polope stands out in a difficult afternoon

The Valencia Bullring hosted this Sunday the second event of the 2026 Fallas Fair season, a novillada with picadors largely conditioned by the limited performance of the bulls from Guadajira. In a contest where opportunities were scarce, Mario Vilau and Marco Polope managed to overcome the difficulties and were each rewarded with a lap of honour.

The atmosphere, with around a quarter of the seats filled, began with a moment of remembrance. Before the paseíllo, a minute of silence was observed in memory of promoter Alain Lartigue, who passed away a few days earlier.

Vilau gives his all in the arena

Mario Vilau made his determination clear from the very start. The young novillero took a bold approach by receiving both of his bulls — including the replacement bull that became the fifth of the afternoon — at the gate (portagayola), a gesture that immediately stirred the crowd.

With his first bull he produced moments of intensity, particularly with kneeling verónicas that caught the attention of the spectators. The bull offered little movement or transmission, forcing Vilau to take risks in close quarters. Showing courage at close range, he managed to keep the audience engaged, although a mistake with the sword prevented him from winning a trophy. Even so, strong public support allowed him to take a lap of honour.

With the fifth replacement bull he found slightly better responses. Vilau managed to link several series at mid-height and once again showed full commitment in the final stages of the performance. However, problems with the sword again prevented him from securing a greater reward.

Polope shows his best work on the left hand

Marco Polope faced a difficult first opponent that offered very limited possibilities, leaving him only the chance to produce isolated passes that hinted at his good technique.

Things improved somewhat with the sixth bull of the afternoon. In the early series he managed to take advantage of some repetition in the bull’s charges, attempting to guide it with rhythm and control. The most notable moments of his performance came towards the end, particularly with vertical and expressive natural passes that connected well with the crowd.

After the final thrust and a descabello, the audience requested a trophy and Polope was awarded a lap of honour after a warning.

Osornio remains composed despite a difficult lot

Mexican novillero Emiliano Osornio showed determination and a clear bullfighting concept despite receiving a lot with very limited possibilities.

Although the bulls lacked transmission, he managed to leave a few promising details that reflected his style and understanding of bullfighting. His performance was recognised with salutes from the ring after his second bull, particularly due to the effectiveness of his sword work, dispatching both bulls with strong final thrusts.

Overall, the novillada was marked by the lack of strength and fighting spirit of the Guadajira bulls, forcing the young bullfighters to rely on determination and commitment to maintain the interest of the afternoon.