Tag Archive for: Dublin Racing Festival

Monday Musings: Of The Kid and DRF

Amid all the extravagantly impressive performances of Wilie Mullins’ three winners on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, I must say I was transfixed by one less predictable show a little nearer to home, writes Tony Stafford. Anyway, that’s how I would describe Musselburgh for us down south.

I had spoken to Nicky Richards on Saturday morning about the chance of The Kalooki Kid in the bet365 Scottish Champion Handicap Chase over 2m4.5f, surprised that his seven-year-old was as short as 11/4 for this £100k, £51k to the winner prize.

Nicky was optimistic, saying he had jumped very well at Doncaster (only second time over fences) and he was hopeful as long as the jumping held up.

Let’s put it in perspective. After a debut for the season when second over two miles at Ayr (12 fences) and a win where a few of the potential dangers fell at crucial stages when admittedly he had already taken charge long before the 15th and final fence, he came to Musselburgh having jumped 27 fences in public.

Now, off a tough enough 131 having been raised 7lb for Doncaster, the son of marathon flat-racer Gentlewave, out of a Flemensfirth mare, faced 11 opponents on Saturday. You can add to his two chase runs, six with two wins over hurdles last season, but a starting price of 2/1? Never.

The said opponents had all won over fences and in terms of experience had The Kalooki Kid by his extremities. None had raced fewer than eight times previously over fences, with four of them having won five times each. Adding their hurdles tally to the chase totals, the least number of runs was 16 – in one case – and it was mostly around 20, compared with the Richards’ horse’s eight. More pertinently, the 11 had collected 38 wins in chases before Saturday.

As I said, Nicky was hopeful the jumping would hold up. Regular partner Danny McMenamin settled him on the inside from the start; initially in around fifth in the running and going past the stands was soon in third, the leaps uniformly accurate without being in any way flashy.

By the time they turned for home with four to go, The Kalooki Kid was in a close second place, poised to tackle the long-time leader Saint Segal. A superior jump four out soon had him in front and still going easily.

Saint Segal had bolted up the time before for the Jane Williams stable at Newbury in December, his third win over fences and fifth in all. He battled bravely as for the second time running, The Kalooki Kid reckoned he’d done enough once clear on the run-in, but he still had more than two lengths to spare at the line.

So here we have a horse, bought at the Landrover sale in Ireland by Richards for €40k in June 2021.  Allowed to mature just as his father, the late Gordon W, would have done in his years bossing Greystoke Stables, and now the rewards should be flowing in the yard’s time-honoured manner, granted the required good luck.

With a pedigree like his, three miles should not be a problem, so now it’s down to the trainer to plot the right path. At 68, it’s remarkable that Nicky was still riding out until last autumn when he had an awful fall, breaking his pelvis among other injuries. The rehabilitation has been going steadily, and it would be great to see him back on track in time to witness the future triumphs from his new stable star.

The 2024/25 season has been building up nicely with 21 wins (and almost £400k in prizes) so far and, as well as The Kalooki Kid, he can look forward to further success with the likes of recent impressive bumper scorer They’re Chancers.

**

It was to be expected that Galopin Des Champs buttoned up the first part of the unheard-of triple double when adding a third successive Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown to the two Cheltenham Gold Cups which he has collected in between.

He might have been beaten twice since Cheltenham at right-handed Punchestown by Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow and then stablemate Fact To File, but as Willie Mullins would say, it’s not what you lose that matters, it’s what you win.

The same Fact To File was in this three-miler on Saturday and like three or four others was poised just behind the champion as he as usual led the field into the short home straight with one to jump. Then, Paul Townend asked and Galopin Des Champs delivered. The finishing burst obliterated any challenge.

It was a similar situation with last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough as he made it two from two since Cheltenham. In a display of raw power rather than slick jumping he made the considerable opposition in the Irish Champion Chase look much less that it had appeared beforehand.

Now he is poised for yet another of those titanic Mullins/Nicky Henderson battles in ‘the’ Arkle at Cheltenham with Sir Gino. Two emerging giants – redolent almost of the Mill House/ Arkle jousts in the 1960’s which so enthralled racegoers for almost three years until Arkle proved his immortality.

The third Mullins winner came in the opening race. The fact that the horse to be called Final Demand was sold for €230k as long ago as June 2022 suggested somebody knew something. The buyer waited until last March before sending him to a point-to-point which he won with ease.

He was then persuaded to let him go and it would be interesting to know how much Brian Drew and Professor Caroline Tisdall needed to shell out for him.

Anyway, they won’t be crying after an easy win at Limerick between Christmas and the New Year and Saturday’s exceptional 12-length victory in the opening Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors €88k to the winner Novice Hurdle over 2m6f. Mullins had four back-up runners in this and far from creaming the place money, all he had to show was 4th, 5th and two pulled ups including the second favourite Supersundae.

Final Demand will be a banker to follow Ballyburn in the 2m5f novice hurdle at Cheltenham while Ballyburn showed he was back in business after finding Sir Gino too speedy over two miles at Kempton at Christmas time. Back to the distance of last year’s hurdle win at the Festival, Ballyburn slaughtered yesterday’s opposition in the Ladbrokes Grade 1 Novice Chase.

Briefly returning to Final Demand, a son of Walk In The Park, he has the same broodmare sire, Flemensfirth, as The Kalooki Kid. Walk In The Park has been a shining light among Coolmore’s main jumps station, Grange Stud, for the past ten seasons in which time fee has always been advertised as “private”.

His story is odd enough. Runner-up in Michael Tabor’s colours in the Derby, a son of Montjeu, also a Tabor horse and a dual Classic winner (French and Irish Derby), Walk In The Park won only once (as a juvenile) in 14 career starts. Initially standing at stud in France, the year before his transfer to Ireland, his last publicised fee was €1,500. How do they do it? Like Willie Mullins, no doubt, talent and dedication.

We were promised a thriller between two Mullins horses in the Irish Champion Hurdle. State Man had won the last two along with last year’s Champion Hurdle proper in the absence of Constitution Hill, but the market settled on the younger mare Lossiemouth who had put in a spirited show when second to Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

But the clash evaporated into a damp squib down the back straight as Lossiemouth fell, leaving State Man, who narrowly avoided being caught up in the tumble, to collect the €112k first prize. Daddy Long Legs, in the winner’s second colours of Mrs Donnelly, stayed on best to get the “measly” €38k second prize for what was almost a school round until he was asked to go faster in the last half mile and beat two other no-hopers. Was there no UK horse thought capable of nicking one of those lavish place prizes?

Well done then to Warren Greatrex for his enterprise in sending over Good And Clever for the novice hurdle won easily by Mullins’ Kopek Des Bordes. Kopek will be a strong favourite for the Supreme Novice at Cheltenham, but Good And Clever collected €13.5k for his owners Jim and Claire Bryce, as the sole UK runner on the day. That following an unplaced Henry Daly runner – 33/1 as top-weight in a three-mile handicap hurdle the previous afternoon.

- TS



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Bambino Fever signs off another memorable Dublin Racing Festival for Mullins

Bambino Fever rounded off another memorable Dublin Racing Festival for Willie Mullins with victory in the concluding Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race.

The champion trainer saddled four runners in his bid for a seventh winner across the two-day fixture at Leopardstown, with son Patrick siding with the impressive Fairyhouse scorer Future Prospect, who was the 9-4 favourite for the Grade Two finale come the off.

However, while she was a spent force early in the home straight after racing keenly, Punchestown winner Bambino Fever (9-1) was just getting going in the hands of Jody Townend and the further she went the better she looked, with seven and a half lengths the winning margin.

Switch From Diesel was best of the rest in second, with Carrigmoornaspruce third.

Paddy Power cut Bambino Fever to 6-1 from 14-1 in their market for the Champion Bumper at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “That was a tremendous improvement from Bambino Fever. She surprised me the first day and she surprised me again today.

“Jody got her lovely and settled at the back and Jukebox Jury must be a fair sire. I’m absolutely delighted with her.

“To me that performance was good to go to Cheltenham anyhow.

“Future Prospect was very disappointing, she was too keen.”

Willie Mullins surrounded by the media at Leopardstown on Sunday
Willie Mullins surrounded by the media at Leopardstown on Sunday (Evan Treacy/PA)

Reflecting on the meeting overall, the Closutton handler added: “It’s been a great weekend because it’s always a worry coming here with the type of horses we bring here.

“Will they fire? Some of them did fire. Some of them didn’t fire, other ones did. We were disappointed with some and then we had some surprises with others.

“It’s tremendous for our owners and staff and I’m very happy with the weekend.”



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State Man lands third Irish Champion Hurdle, as Lossiemouth makes dramatic exit

A crashing fall suffered by his stablemate Lossiemouth allowed State Man to come home in splendid isolation and claim his third victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The feature event on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival was billed as a straight shootout between the Willie Mullins-trained duo, with Lossiemouth the marginal favourite at 8-11 after finishing behind the brilliant Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

State Man (5-4) had also come up short over the festive period, finishing a distant third behind Brighterdaysahead, but Paul Townend kept the faith in the reigning champion, allowing Danny Mullins to ride Lossiemouth for the first time since her Irish debut three years ago.

From flag-fall the big two dominated, with Lossiemouth and State Man quickly building up a huge advantage over the other three runners.

The decisive moment came in the back straight as Lossiemouth was still in a narrow lead when she made a bad mistake and fell four flights from home, very nearly bringing down State Man in the process.

Townend kept the partnership intact, however, and the race was effectively over from there as State Man coasted home to beat another Mullins runner, Daddy Long Legs, by six and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “Both jockeys went out with no instructions and I was happy to let them do what they wanted, ride their own horse and their own race.

“They were setting it up to be a hell of a race. What happened is disappointing for Rich (Ricci, owner of Lossiemouth), it’s disappointing for the public and it’s disappointing for us all. It was just one of those things and Paul said he was lucky not to be brought down.

“Paul was happier that State Man was back to himself. He only does whatever he has to do, and only wins a length or two when he’s right.

“Paul never waivered from him. There was never any question which horse he was going to ride today.”

Paul Townend celebrates winning a third Irish Champion Hurdle on State Man
Paul Townend celebrates winning a third Irish Champion Hurdle on State Man (Evan Treacy/PA)

Paddy Power trimmed State Man’s odds to win a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham to 7-1 from 8-1, with Lossiemouth pushed out slightly to 4-1 from 11-4. Former champion Constitution Hill is the 4-7 favourite to regain his crown.

Lossiemouth walked away from her exit unscathed and while her rider was gingerly holding his arm in the immediate aftermath, he did ride in the next race.

Of Lossiemouth, her trainer said: “When she won the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse she was running at a four-mile pace and we always settled her in behind because she was so keen.

“She is bred to be way faster than State Man, but in the Christmas Hurdle she just wasn’t used to that fast pace that they go around Kempton. I didn’t think that was anything to do with zest, it was just to do with the way we’d been teaching her to race.

“I haven’t spoken to Rich, but our plan has always been to go for the Champion Hurdle and unless they have a change of heart, I’m happy she can still go for a Champion Hurdle.”



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Super Solness bags another big Leopardstown prize

Solness proved his surprise Christmas success was no fluke with a superb front-running victory in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge was a shock 28-1 winner at Grade One level over the festive period, beating the reopposing pair of Gaelic Warrior and Marine Nationale.

Gaelic Warrior was a 6-4 favourite to turn the tables just over five weeks later, but Solness again emerged victorious under an inspired ride from Danny Mullins.

Sent straight to the lead from the off, Solness had built up a significant advantage racing down the back straight and it was clear from a long way out the chasing pack would struggle to bridge the gap.

With Gaelic Warrior never threatening to get seriously involved, Marine National emerged as the biggest threat to Solness in the straight, but O’Brien’s charge found plenty on the run-in under a power-packed Mullins drive to see him off by two lengths.

Gaelic Warrior was 12 lengths further behind in third, with his stablemate El Fabiolo an early faller.

Coral cut Solness to 10-1 from 25-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, with ante-post favourite Jonbon also trimmed to 4-5 from evens.

Solness and Danny Mullins on their way to victory
Solness and Danny Mullins on their way to victory (Evan Treacy/PA)

O’Brien said: “Aggressive tactics (worked), he jumped brilliantly and I thought what he did from the last to the line showed real tenacity because he was there to be shot at the whole way.

“He has a will to win, Danny got a breather into him between the third-last and the second-last and that was probably the winning of the race in the end.

“I could see him running big race in the Champion Chase. He’ll jump and go and they’ll have to come and get to him to beat him. That’s the way he likes to run.

“He has surprised us. We went to Listowel and he won a big handicap chase with a lot of wight and we thought that was a good pot to pick up with him. Then we ended up in graded races and he’s just kept going forward.”

Mullins was taking over in the saddle from J J Slevin, who instead partnered El Fabiolo for his new retained owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

On who is likely to be on board at Cheltenham next month, O’Brien added: “It will all depend on availability. If J J is available he’ll ride him, if Danny is available he’ll ride him and if neither of them is available, somebody else will ride him!”



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Ballyburn back on top with Leopardstown verdict

Ballyburn bounced back from an emphatic Christmas reverse at the hands of Sir Gino with a determined victory in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

A triple Grade One-winning novice hurdler last season, Ballyburn made a fine start to his career over fences at Punchestown in November but was no match for a rampant Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over the festive period.

Stepping back up in trip, Ballyburn was the 8-13 favourite to land a Grade One contest his trainer Willie Mullins has farmed in recent years, with Faugheen (2020), Galopin Des Champs (2022) and last year’s victor Fact To File among those on the roll of honour.

Having sat in the slipstream of pacesetting stablemate Champ Kiely for much of the two-mile-five-furlong contest, Ballyburn took over after jumping the second fence from home and looked set to win decisively after cruising round the home turn in front.

But Croke Park – an 11-1 shot despite being a dual Grade One winner over fences already – kept the market leader honest all the way up the straight before Paul Townend’s mount found more on the run-in to pull five lengths clear. Impaire Et Passe was a further five and a half lengths behind in third.

Coral make Ballyburn their 2-1 favourite (from 11-4) to successfully step up to three miles in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “I never lost faith, Kempton was just a bit sharp for him and I suppose Kempton lit him up as well, so he was fairly lit today with Paul.

“I think he eventually got him settled and he was afraid to move on him then in case he took off again, so he didn’t do any racing until after the last and he did what he usually does – he just quickened up from the last home.

“He looks a decent horse and I loved what he did from the last to the line. Once Paul got to ask him, he flew.

“He’s bred to get three miles and it’s fascinating he was able to do what he did over two miles and everyone had him down as a two-miler, but looking at his page you’d have to think he wants a trip.

“I thought his jumping improved today, going that pace today over that trip it was going to be easier for him.”



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Perceval Legallois remains in Grand National reckoning

Perceval Legallois could be considered for the Grand National after winning the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle for the second time in three years.

He ensured it was a day to remember for Gavin Cromwell, as after winning his first Grade One in his homeland for over four years with Hello Neighbour, the trainer’s eight-year-old followed up his win over fences last time out.

Mark Walsh oozed confidence and brought the 15-2 chance through to beat Gaoth Chuil by a length and a half.

“You wouldn’t think he was after running over fences, he was very nimble over hurdles,” said Cromwell.

“Obviously, he was off a lower mark. I thought coming here that he was a better chaser than a hurdler, but you can’t argue with that.

“He’s in the National and sure you’d have to consider it.

“It’s fantastic, it’s so hard to be competitive here, so to win two races is brilliant.”

Betfair cut Perceval Legallois to 20-1 from 33s for Aintree.

Derek O’Connor brought Noel Meade’s Colcannon from last to first to win the Paddy Power Play Card (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race for Noel Meade.

The 9-2 chance was having his sixth run in a bumper but was wearing a hood for the first time. He had won a Punchestown bumper last February, only to be disqualified after his teenage jockey Finn Tegetmeier weighed in light, but belatedly got off the mark at Galway in October.

“We always thought he was fairly useful,” said Meade.

“It was unfortunate what happened last year with Finn. He was point-three light, which is nothing, and he went and won by nine lengths.

“The whole intention after he won his bumper was to go jumping with him but the schooling just wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go.

“I felt he was going to take a run or two over hurdles to get to where we want him.

“I’d say we go with a different plan. We decided we’d run him in the bumper at Christmas but the day before we had spots in the yard and he came up with a couple of spots, so we had to take him out of that and then here was the next one.

“Unfortunately, he’s not qualified for Cheltenham but I think he’s OK for Punchestown, so we’ll probably plan for that. If there is something in between, at Fairyhouse, we’ll see.”

Paul Nolan got on the scoresheet when An Peann Dearg (8-1) ran out an easy winner of the Ryanair Handicap Chase – but the trainer bemoaned the seven-length winning margin.

“It’s great for Jim and Sonja (Buckley, co-owners), they are very important people in the yard and it’s great to have them here and win a big pot,” said Nolan.

“He travelled well, something similar to the last day, but he probably hit the line a little bit stronger.

“We could see it today, but the handicapper can see it as well!”



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Gaelic Warrior primed for positive Dublin Chase tactics

Gaelic Warrior bids to cement his Queen Mother Champion Chase claims in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Winner of the Arkle at Cheltenham last season, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding was beaten by the reopposing Solness on his return to action over this course and distance in late December.

Mullins, who fits Gaelic Warrior with a tongue-strap for the first time, expects his charge to improve for that comeback run and is not overly concerned by his tendency to jump right on occasions.

Paul Townend takes over in the saddle from Patrick Mullins, with the latter having deputised over the festive period due to Townend being in action at Kempton.

Willie Mullins has high hopes for Gaelic Warrior
Willie Mullins has high hopes for Gaelic Warrior (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s come out of Christmas very well. I think Patrick just kept him to the outside that day and that was a big help, he didn’t give him too much opportunity to run down a fence. Sometimes when you bottle up a horse, he has to jump straight,” said the champion trainer.

“You are always worried about a horse like Asterion Forlonge, as he used to jump right as well, and when you put him in against a wing, he couldn’t physically get himself up off the ground – he used to have to do a sort of sidestep before he jumped.

“We learned to give him room and he was fine and it is only in the last two or three fences where it will count. You are just hoping that they are not racing as hard as you can be at that stage and you are only going three-quarters speed, where you can jump a lot straighter than when going flat out.”

On whether he would like Gaelic Warrior to get some cover in behind rivals in Sunday’s Grade One contest, Mullins added: “We don’t know what the opposition is going to do and it may be that if there is no pace, we’re just as happy to let him roll on in front.

“Now he’s got that race under his belt, and with the way he jumps, if he is allowed a lead, we will take it.”

El Fabiolo returns to action at Leopardstown
El Fabiolo returns to action at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Gaelic Warrior is the clear second-favourite behind Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

On Sunday, he will be joined by two stablemates who have already landed the Dublin Chase in the 2023 victor Gentleman De Mee and the defending champion El Fabiolo, who has been off the track since chasing home Jonbon in the Celebration Chase at Sandown last spring.

Solness was a surprise winner when defeating Gaelic Warrior over the festive period and his trainer Joseph O’Brien is hoping for another bold showing.

“It was a great performance at Christmas, we could just do with the ground drying out, to be honest, but he’s been preparing well and he’s going there in good form,” said the Owning Hill handler.

“The ground is a bit quicker on the chase track than the hurdle track, so we do have that in our favour.

“We didn’t expect him to win like that last time, but he was going in off some very good runs and J J (Slevin) gave him a very good ride.”

Just behind Gaelic Warrior in third that day was Barry Connell’s stable star Marine Nationale, who is again in opposition.

Connell said: “Marine is in super form, we were right on Gaelic Warrior’s tail the last day and I think he’s come forward since then.

“He’s kind of having to catch up experience-wise, but we’re looking forward to it.”



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Cromwell enjoys Juvenile Grade One strike with Hello Neighbour

Gavin Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour ensured that Willie Mullins would be unable to repeat his clean sweep of Dublin Racing Festival Grade Ones when grimly holding on to win the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Having won all eight Grade Ones at the two-day event 12 months ago, many were predicting the champion trainer would do the same again – and having won the first available with Final Demand, the bookies were quaking.

However, in the build-up to the meeting, the juvenile race perhaps looked the most difficult for Mullins, given Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour brought such smart form from the Flat and had made a winning hurdling debut.

Mullins did eventually have the favourite in Sainte Lucie following sustained support but she ruined her chance by pulling hard behind the slow pace set by Danny Mullins on Sony Bill.

Hello Neighbour (85-40) travelled sweetly and jumped with aplomb throughout for Keith Donoghue and when he took over at the head of affairs, they looked like going away to win well.

There was perhaps not as much response as anticipated, though, and Joseph O’Brien’s filly Galileo Dame closed to within three-quarters of a length, with the same distance back to Lady Vega Allen.

The winner was cut to 11-2 from 8-1 for the Triumph Hurdle behind 7-4 favourite Lulamba by Betfair.

“I’m just thrilled to win a Grade One. I haven’t won a Grade One in Ireland for over four years, that’s just the nature of how competitive it is here,” said Cromwell, who struck at elite level on home turf with Flooring Porter back in December 2020.

“He’s a proper one. I brought him along slowly and he’s answered every call, hopefully he’ll improve again.

“We’ve always liked him and he’s progressive. I was very pushy to get someone to buy him and thankfully Paddy and Yvonne (Sheanon) did.

“Fair play to Paddy, he was brave and put the money out, he’s getting rewarded.

“He was still a little bit keen but I think he’s going to learn every day. He’s a straightforward horse but he just wants to get on with it, he’ll be fine. The more he does, the more he’ll improve.”

Trainer Gavin Cromwell with Hello Neighbour
Trainer Gavin Cromwell with Hello Neighbour (Damien Eagers/PA)

When asked how the form would measure up with the English horses, he added: “You don’t know until they meet. They look very good, they are very smart, and we’ll know early in March.”

Donoghue said: “It was a good performance. He settled a little bit better today, but he’s still learning. He’s still a little bit too keen in snatches but the hood helped a bit.

“His jumping got better as the race went on and a good jump two out put me in a good position.

“The plan was to get cover, get him settled, and try to get him to do things right for the future.

“He did too much wrong here the last day and he is still only learning. He still did plenty wrong today as well, so hopefully he will learn from it.

“That’s two out of two now, so hopefully he will progress again for Cheltenham. He’s very exciting – if we can keep a lid on him, hopefully he’ll have a great chance.”



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Ballyburn looking to get back on track over longer trip

Ballyburn is a hot favourite to beat stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown, despite being well beaten by Sir Gino when he was last seen at Christmas.

Willie Mullins sent the highly regarded seven-year-old over to Kempton for the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase due to a lack of two-mile options in Ireland over the festive period.

The plan backfired, though, as he could not live with Nicky Henderson’s Arkle favourite and such was the manner of the defeat, Ballyburn now steps back up to the distance over which he was so impressive at Cheltenham last March over hurdles.

“We found out at Kempton that he just couldn’t jump at that pace,” said Mullins

“Now, Sir Gino could be a superstar, so if there wasn’t Sir Gino there, he might have been adequate, but at least we found out we’re not going down the two-mile route with him.

“It was disappointing to go there and get beat but my only other option was to go to Limerick and the race I had marked out for Impaire Et Passe.

“I thought what is the point in burning two bullets for one race and he should have gone to Leopardstown, but they took away that race.

“I was surprised he was favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year and we ran him in the other race – and I think looking at his pedigree and the stamp of horse he is, he has stayer written all over him.

“We hope his attitude will let him stay, he will have to settle and do more things right, but that is all part of growing up.”

Having looked imperious as a novice hurdler, Impaire Et Passe did not quite come up to scratch against the best last season until he bloomed in the spring, winning at Aintree and Sandown.

He has looked very good in two outings over fences to date, beating a strong field at Limerick last time out to provide Daryl Jacob with a final Grade One before he retired.

J J Slevin replaced Jacob in the role as retained rider for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and takes the mount this time.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager for the duo, said: “I’ve been pleased with how he’s been switching off in his races and he’s seeing them out well. He’s been finishing off much better than he ever did over hurdles last season and I think he’s a healthier horse this year – we’re excited to see him out again.”

Mullins also runs Champ Kiely, while Gordon Elliott fields Croke Park and Better Days Ahead.

The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle is again dominated by Mullins, with six of the 10 runners stabled at Closutton.

Kopek Des Bordes, the mount of Paul Townend, is the only unbeaten runner, having had just two outings to date.

JP McManus’ Kaid d’Authie, Redemption Day, Karniquet, Karafon and Sea Of Sands give the champion trainer an extremely strong hand.

He is also responsible for four of the 12 in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race.

Bambino Fever, Blue Velvet, Carmeletta Vega and Future Prospect all go.

The last named bolted up by nine lengths at Fairyhouse on her debut under rules and Mullins said: “She looks exciting, so she does. I’m looking forward to her. She didn’t show anything like that at home in her work.”

Declan Queally has unearthed several nice prospects this season and Carrigmoornaspruce, a dual winner, looks another.

Assessing the race, Queally said: “She’s only five. John Magnier’s filly (Future Prospect) that won at Fairyhouse looks very decent and Tom Cooper’s mare (Amen Kate), which beat us at Listowel – we weren’t really wound up for that day, but she’s probably improved again.

“So it’s going to be a cracking race and whatever filly wins it is definitely going to look like a future star.

“I’ll ride her. I can’t wait. To get the chance in a race like that is brilliant.”



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Final Demand delivers for Mullins in Dublin Racing Festival opener

Willie Mullins began the Dublin Racing Festival in the best possible fashion when Final Demand displayed plenty of stamina in winning the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Won by stablemate Dancing City 12 months ago, who went on to finish third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham before claiming two further Grade One successes, the 11-8 favourite drew away from Wingmen after the final flight to win by a yawning 12 lengths.

Having tracked the pace on the inside rail for much of the contest, Paul Townend moved him out on the bend and, as one by one any other realistic challengers dropped away, it soon only concerned two.

Wingmen did his best to fend off Final Demand, but having helped force the pace, he had nothing else to give.

Mozzies Sister stayed on for third, with Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux back in fourth.

Ladbrokes make the winner a 3-1 shot for both the Turners and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdles.

Mullins said: “That was a huge performance, Paul was in the perfect position the whole way and when he pulled him out, it was a question of what was left in the tank – it turns out there was plenty.

“He was probably going better at the winning post than he had the whole way.

“There was a good few disappointments there but for him to be able to do that is huge. It’s a nice start but we need a few more!

“Jumping the last today was the first time I realised he was a bit above average, but what he did from the last today sets him apart from a lot of other horses.”

He went on: “It’s great to come here and win a Grade One on just his second run over hurdles. He’s a specimen. He was probably one of the dearest stores of his generation, so often they don’t work out but to win a Grade One here is fantastic.

“I wouldn’t mind going back in trip and I’m wondering if this race should be over two and a half miles rather than two-six, but we’ve been very lucky in it, I shouldn’t be looking to change it.

“I was concerned when I saw Paul niggling turning for home but he said he was just waking him up.”



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Galileo Dame tests Triumph claims for Joseph O’Brien

The last four Triumph Hurdle winners have all run in the Gannon’s City Recovery And Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown and Joseph O’Brien is hoping Galileo Dame can add her name to the list.

Quilixios and Vauban took both races, while Lossiemouth and Majborough were both placed before winning at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Galileo Dame was smart on the Flat and finished a fine second to the reopposing Wendrock on her jumping debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, a run from which she is entitled to be sharper, believes her trainer.

“Hopefully she’ll improve from her first run, she should certainly benefit from her first experience,” said O’Brien.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how she gets on, she should enjoy the ground on the slow side and she has prepared well.

“We know she’s got ability from the Flat and while she’s still a maiden, we may as well run her in nice races that are worth winning, but at the same time this also looks the right race to run her in.

“It’s not a big field and it looks an open race, so this looks the right spot for her.”

Willie Mullins is bidding for a fourth successive win after Vauban, Gala Marceau and Kargese, and again the champion trainer holds a strong hand.

Only one of the aforementioned was partnered by Paul Townend, who this year rides the Rich Ricci-owned Sainte Lucie, who made a very impressive debut at Punchestown when winning by 11 lengths.

“I was really taken with her, I didn’t expect that,” said Mullins.

“I thought she was half-decent but I thought that was a huge performance, knowing that she’s only half-ready. She’s going to improve a lot, I hope.”

Lady Vega Allen pushed Gavin Cromwell’s highly-touted Hello Neighbour, who also runs in this, when first and second in a Grade Two at Christmas.

“She put in some run the other day,” said Mullins of Sean O’Keeffe’s mount.

“We were only hoping to get a run into her, to see what she was like and look what she did, so I think with normal improvement, hopefully she’ll put in a really good run in Dublin.”

Sony Bill, who will be partnered by Danny Mullins, was third in the same race.

“He ran well, he had plenty of experience in France, so I don’t know how much improvement he has in him, because he had all that experience, so he might not have as much improvement in him as some of the others,” said Mullins

Mullins also runs Willy De Houelle, who was the early favourite for the Triumph but has failed to win in two starts to date in Ireland.

Cromwell will equip Hello Neighbour with a hood as his handler seeks a more restrained performance.

“He didn’t do everything right when he won the last day and we’ve put the hood on him here to help him settle, which he seems to have taken well to at home. If he does things right here, then he’d have a very good chance,” he told William Hill.

“The ultimate aim with him is the Triumph Hurdle. As expected, it looks a very strong race with a couple of exciting British horses in there. Hopefully we’ll be in the mix come March.”

The eighth and final runner is Declan Queally’s Bacchanalian, a winner at the third time of asking over obstacles at Fairyhouse.

“If it gets a bit sticky and tacky, I think it will really play into our hands against a lot of Flat-bred juveniles that don’t handle the ground,” said Queally.

“I think we are there to run a big race in tough conditions, because he’s 17 hands – he’s a really big, strong horse that loves the dig in the ground.

“It is a big step up, but if the track is gluey, I think he will handle it, so he deserves to take his chance anyway.”



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Galopin going for Gold hat-trick at Leopardstown

Galopin Des Champs puts his impeccable Leopardstown record on the line, as he leads Willie Mullins’ crack Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup team into battle seeking his third straight victory in the Dublin Racing Festival feature.

The nine-year-old may have won two Cheltenham Gold Cups but it is arguably in the Irish capital where he is at his ultimate best, unbeaten over the larger obstacles at the Foxrock track.

Having excelled once again at the venue when gaining John Durkan revenge over stablemate Fact To File in the Savills Chase at Christmas, he will be a short price to add to his trainer’s record 13 victories in the Grade One event.

“I’m delighted how he’s come out of his race at Christmas,” said Mullins.

“To me, Galopin was awesome and he’s put in two huge performances in Leopardstown, the Irish Gold Cup (last year) and the Savills (at Christmas).

“We hope he can do it one more time.”

Victory for Galopin Des Champs would see him join greats Jodami and Beef Or Salmon on three wins in the race, while it would put him just one behind Florida Pearl, the original Closutton superstar who triumphed four times at Leopardstown between 1999 and 2004.

Galopin Des Champs in action at Christmas
Galopin Des Champs in action at Christmas (Damien Eagers/PA)

However, it may prove easy for Mullins to feel confident heading into the contest, as if Galopin Des Champs were to falter, he has five others lying in wait to pick up the pieces.

Fact To File looks to be best placed of the Closutton team to down his stablemate for a second time this season, with his big-race pilot Mark Walsh tasked with conjuring up a new plan to topple the stable number one.

Mullins continued: “I think we will have to do something different with Fact To File. I’ll leave that to Mark and see what he wants to do, he might have a different tactic up his sleeve, but we’ll leave that until the parade ring before the race.”

Fact To File claimed the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown
Fact To File claimed the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA)

Also on the Mullins teamsheet are Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Minella Cocooner, Grangeclare West and Embassy Gardens, with the latter arriving after winning in good style at Tramore on New Year’s Day and proving an able deputy in the staying division for the owners’ injured Fastorslow.

Mullins added: “We have a good team from Closutton going there. Embassy Gardens just disappointed us last year in the National Hunt Chase, so this year we were going down to Tramore and there was nothing making the pace.

“I said to Mikey (O’Sullivan) ‘you bounce out, he loves galloping, he loves jumping. Just see what happens’. It worked out fantastic.

“Mikey was really delighted with him and we were, Sean and Bernardine (Mulryan, owners) were as well. Fastorslow went and now they might have another horse to take over as their number one horse in him.

“We were gutted for Martin (Brassil, trainer of Fastorslow), because we know what it’s like having one competitive Grade One horse you are looking forward to the whole season.

“I know on one side you can think ‘well that’s one less to take on for the Gold Cup’, but for a fellow and colleague training, it’s a body punch.”

Monty’s Star was five lengths adrift of Embassy Gardens at Tramore, but trainer Henry de Bromhead is anticipating his latest staying star to improve for that outing.

“He ran a nice race in Tramore and we hope he’ll come on a lot for the run, obviously he needs to,” he said.

Monty’s Star (left) has plenty of talent
Monty’s Star (left) has plenty of talent (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We were happy and it was good to get started. He sort of goes on any ground. We had a few holds ups coming into the Tramore race and it probably wasn’t ideal, but we needed to get him started.

“His form looks good. Obviously Galopin has been brilliant and will be a hard one to beat, but hopefully we’ll give a good account of ourselves.”

Hewick returns to fences having competed over hurdles for Tara Lee Cogan at Christmas, while Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin and Gordon Elliott’s Conflated – the winner in 2022 – complete the field.



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Majborough and Ile Atlantique face off in Irish Arkle

Majborough puts his towering reputation to the test in an all-star clash with stablemate Ile Atlantique in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

It was on this day 12 months ago when the strapping gelding first gave a hint at his high-class potential in finishing third in the Grade One juvenile hurdle on the Dublin Racing Festival card.

However, better was still to come and he marched on to Triumph Hurdle glory at the Cheltenham Festival, reversing form with Kargese for a victory that had connections excited for the future.

He made a foot-perfect start to life over the larger obstacles at Fairyhouse before Christmas and will be a warm order to give Willie Mullins a fifth Irish Arkle success on the spin.

“He looked Arkle material there (at Fairyhouse), he handled Leopardstown well (last year), so we’d be very keen going back,” said Mullins.

“My heart went in my mouth (during his chasing debut) and when you’ve a horse of that calibre, I find other people enjoy them more than I do. I enjoy other people’s horses because there’s no pressure.

“We’ll let him go in the Arkle (at Cheltenham), then we’ll decide whether to go back to Fairyhouse or to Aintree for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One.

“I’d imagine soft ground would be better, he has a lovely action. He’s another one that I probably need to keep a bit fresher at home.”

Ile Atlantique (left) winning over fences at Naas
Ile Atlantique (left) winning over fences at Naas (Niall Carson/PA)

Majborough is unlikely to have things all his own way in his first top-level assignment over the larger obstacles and supporters will be wary of the fact the Closutton first string has been beaten by a stablemate the past two years.

This time around, it will be Ile Atlantique who will be attempting to keep the favourite honest, having produced two fine performances over fences so far, including when comfortably accounting for Gordon Elliott’s reopposing Firefox at Naas last time.

With his best form coming on soft ground, his connections are wary of drying conditions in the Irish capital. However, they are willing to take their chance in a race that could provide plenty of clues for the rest of Ile Atlantique’s season.

“It’s all systems go and the horse has been in great form since he last ran at Naas,” said Sean Graham, owner Tony Bloom’s racing manager.

“The one thing I would say is that although they had rain at Leopardstown during the week, it’s been dry since and they say it could be yielding ground on the chase course and we might really want it slower than that.

“However, he’s in great form and hopefully we can give Majborough some sort of race anyway. We’ve never been scared of taking on a short-priced favourite, no matter how short in the market it may be and anything can happen, plenty of favourites have been beaten at these meetings in the past.

“The ground when he won at Naas was heavy and it suited him but if he were to go and win on Saturday, you would see no reason why we wouldn’t be sticking at two miles, but maybe if he gets beat and Paul (Townend) says he doesn’t have quite the pace, we could look at a step up in trip in the future.

“He’s an exciting horse for us going forward and hopefully both horses jump round on Saturday and we can find out which one is the best.”

Jeannot Lapin was a shock winner at Leopardstown over Christmas
Jeannot Lapin was a shock winner at Leopardstown over Christmas (Damien Eagers/PA)

As well as Firefox, Elliott will saddle Touch Me Not, who won the Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown before chasing home L’Eau Du Sud in the Grade One Henry VIII at Sandown.

Patrick Neville is responsible for British raider Here Comes Georgie, with the giant Jeannot Lapin – a shock 150-1 winner over the track and trip on what was his debut under rules in December – completing the six-strong field.

Jeannot Lapin’s trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin said: “He’s in great form, I couldn’t be happier with him.

“He’d been working very well before Christmas and had been showing us all the right signs. We thought we might as well go for a good race rather than an average one and it worked out.

“If the race (Irish Arkle) was on a different track, maybe you wouldn’t even consider it, but he’s obviously won at the track now. It’s probably turned out to be a better race than what I thought it was going to be, as we were kind of hoping Willie would only run one and Gordon would only run one, but it is what it is.

“I think our horse has come forward, he’ll obviously need to, but we can give it a go while he’s in good form and we can always come down in class after if we need to. You never know what can happen.”



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Final Demand heads strong Mullins squad for Leopardstown opener

Willie Mullins looks set to get this year’s Dublin Racing Festival off to a flying start, with a Closutton quintet in line for the curtain-raising Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

The champion trainer is widely expected to dominate proceedings over the two days at Leopardstown and it will be a major surprise if he does not strike gold in the first of the eight Grade One prizes that are up for grabs.

Paul Townend has sided with Final Demand, who was a 15-length winner on his rules debut at Limerick over the Christmas period, while Patrick Mullins keeps the ride on Supersundae, who emerged best of the rest behind The Yellow Clay in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle four weeks ago and is fitted with a tongue-strap and a hood for the first time.

“Final Demand will lead the team for the Nathaniel Lacy. He was impressive at Limerick and we’re looking forward to him,” said Mullins senior.

“I’d say Supersundae needs the trip. He pulls hard, but I think a lot of the races we’ve contested have been very slow paces and that hasn’t helped.

“When it’s their second run, they tend to drop it a bit, a lot of the excitement goes out of their system, too.”

Champion Bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux (J J Slevin) finished a disappointing fourth as a hot favourite for the Lawlor’s of Naas and will sport cheekpieces on Saturday, while Sounds Victorius (Sean O’Keeffe) is no forlorn hope judged on a New Year’s Day victory at Fairyhouse.

Patrick Mullins and Jasmin De Vaux after winning the Champion Bumper at last year's Cheltenham Festival
Patrick Mullins and Jasmin De Vaux after winning the Champion Bumper at last year’s Cheltenham Festival (Adam Davy/PA)

Of Jasmin De Vaux, Mullins added: “I’m disappointed with him and if you go back to his point-to-point if you watched it, we were worried about his jumping and when we spoke to people, they said he got over the fences but that was it.

“We’re schooling him and trying to give him confidence and I do wonder if it’s a confidence thing. When a horse does that, you sometimes wonder if it’s a physical thing, but we can’t find any physical problem that would make him do that.

“We’ll just give him time to learn and get some confidence.”

Outsider Joystick (Danny Mullins) completes the Closutton squad, fresh from beating a big field of maidens at Naas.

Among those hoping to take down the Mullins battalion is Declan Queally, who saddles high-class mare Mozzies Sister.

The six-year-old has been placed in Grade Two company on her last two starts and Queally believes she can be competitive once again.

“She’s good, she’s come out of Limerick well. I think that tacky ground at Limerick just knocked her jumping, she can jump very well, so a nice, big track and riding her a little more forward should bring out a bit of improvement,” he said.

“She hit the line very hard in Limerick, she stayed on really well and there’s no getting to the end with her.

“I’ll be hoping for a good run, obviously she will be in deep waters but she’s fit. I worked her on Monday, she’s fit and she’s ready to go. It will be a very tough test, but she’s a good filly and we are looking forward to running her.”

Also in against the might of the Mullins yard is owner-trainer Desmond Kenneally, who is represented by Pray Tell, the winner of three of his last four starts, including a Grade Three success at Cork on his most recent outing in early December.

Kenneally said: “After winning down in Cork, I had to charge my phone three times on the Monday. There were so many people ringing me, I could get nothing done – I couldn’t even boil the kettle!

“It’s great, but it’s unusual for me all this hype and excitement. I wasn’t expecting it.”



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Galopin takes on nine rivals in hat-trick hunt

Galopin Des Champs is set to face nine rivals in his bid for a third victory in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Also a dual winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Willie Mullins’ superstar chaser will be a red-hot favourite to make it a hat-trick in the feature event on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival following another imperious display in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month.

The nine-year-old will renew rivalry with several horses who finished behind him that day, most notably his stablemate Fact To File, who beat Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan at Punchestown earlier this season but was firmly put in his place over the festive period.

The champion trainer also saddles Embassy Gardens, who impressed at Tramore on New Year’s Day, as well as Grand National hero I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner in his bid for a 14th Irish Gold Cup success.

The biggest threat to the Mullins battalion appears to be Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star, who filled the runner-up spot behind Embassy Gardens at Tramore.

Conflated (Gordon Elliott), Hewick (Tara Lee Cogan) and Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) complete the field.

The first of four Grade Ones on the card is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Mullins is responsible for five of the 12 runners declared, including Final Demand and Supersundae.

Cromwell’s course and distance winner Hello Neighbour is a narrow favourite for the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle, while the Mullins-trained Majborough takes on stable companion Ile Atlantique as well as five other opponents in the Goffs Irish Arkle.



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