There was some sensational action in Ireland over the Christmas period and our resident columnist Donal Murphy is back with The Irish Angle to take a look back at some sparkling performances, while also picking out a few for the notebook.
BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD & GALOPIN DES CHAMPS LIGHT UP LEOPARDSTOWN
The performances of Brighterdaysahead and Galopin Des Champs undoubtedly lit up the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.
The Willie Mullins-trained latter was utterly flawless in his dismantling of a high quality field in the Savills Chase, reversing John Durkan form with reopposing stable companion Fact To File.
Making all under Paul Townend, the dual Gold Cup victor powered away from his rivals after the last and had seven and a half lengths to spare at the line.
The success of Brighterdaysahead was equally as breathtaking, with the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old coming home 30-lengths clear in the Neville Hotels Hurdle.
Odds-on favourite State Man was fighting a losing battle from early in this Grade 1 contest, with the Gigginstown House Stud-owned victor now a serious Champion Hurdle contender.
A LEOPARDSTOWN TO REMEMBER FOR ELLIOTT
Claiming three of the six Grade 1s on offer, saddling seven winners in total, outdoing Willie Mullins and registering a 100th success at the highest level, it’s fair to say Gordon Elliott had a Christmas to remember at Leopardstown.
With Brighterdaysahead the undoubted highlight, the Cullentra handler also tasted top level wins with Croke Park and Romeo Coolio.
The former just got the better of stable companion Better Days Ahead in what was a disappointing four runner renewal of the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase.
Bouncing back from his Royal Bond defeat, Romeo Coolio proved far superior to his six rivals in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
The Champion Bumper runner-up led from early in this two-mile contest and ultimately eased to a nine length success, with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle now firmly on the agenda for this classy five-year-old.
O’BRIEN ADDS TO KING GEORGE GLORY
Following on from the brilliant success of Banbridge in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, Joseph O’Brien combined with his cousin JJ Slevin for further Grade 1 glory at Leopardstown.
The pair struck first with Solness in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase on Friday, with this 28/1 chance lowering the colours of Gaelic Warrior.
Home By The Lee then proved far superior to his seven rivals in the Savills Hurdle the following afternoon, powering to a six-length win in the colours of owner/breeder Sean O’Driscoll.
Sixth, fifth and third in the last three renewals of the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the soon to be 10-year-old appears to be improving with age and is undoubtedly a leading hope for Thursday’s Prestbury Park highlight.
WINNERS GALORE FOR CROMWELL & DE BROMHEAD
Gavin Cromwell and Henry de Bromhead were the only two trainers to saddle winners at Down Royal, Limerick and Leopardstown respectively.
On the mark five times over the festive period, Cromwell landed valuable handicaps at Leopardstown with Perceval Legallois and Al Gasparo, while he also claimed Grade 2 prizes with Hello Neighbour and Bioluminescence.
Visiting the winners enclosure six times, de Bromhead won no less than four maiden hurdles, while also landing the St Stephen’s Day feature at Limerick with The Big Westerner.
Providing Rachael Blackmore with her first success since returning from injury, July Flower beat a quality field in the Grade 3 Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.
“We bought her to win the Mares Hurdle, so the dream is alive,” de Bromhead commented in the aftermath.
LIMERICK ROUND UP
The Grade 1 Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase was the highlight of four days at Limerick, with Impaire Et Passe providing Daryl Jacob with what ultimately proved to be his last success.
Announcing his intention to retire in the aftermath, Jacob guided the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old to a comfortable four-length win, with more demanding tests now on the horizon for this Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned bay.
Mullins had earlier unleashed an exciting prospect in the shape of point-to-point recruit Final Demand.
Starting off over flights, this well-bred Walk In The Park five-year-old justified strong market support under Danny Mullins, easing to a 15-length win.
The Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle was the feature on St Stephen’s Day at Greenmount Park, with The Big Westerner coming out on top in this Grade 2 affair.
Highly regarded by connections and now three wins from three starts, this imposing bay could be Albert Bartlett bound.
Gavin Cromwell’s Bioluminescence claimed the highlight on Friday’s card, the Grade 2 McMahons Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase.
Disappointingly pulled up when last seen at Fairyhouse in March, she bounced back in style, justifying strong market support when scoring by three lengths under Derek O’Connor.
The Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase at Cheltenham in March is now the likely target for this JP McManus-owned six-year-old, with O’Connor later describing her jumping as ‘unbelievable.’
TEAM MULLINS NOT FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
By his own extremely high standards, it was a disappointing Christmas period for Willie Mullins, with his strike rate at Leopardstown way down on recent years.
The master of Closutton saddled just four winners at the Foxrock venue, after registering nine 12-months ago and no less than 13 in 2022.
In total, Mullins had nine beaten favourites across all meetings since St Stephen’s Day.
WHAT’S COMING UP
The final meeting of 2024 takes place at Punchestown tomorrow afternoon, with Tramore and Fairyhouse the focus of attention on New Year’s Day.
The O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase is the feature at Tramore, with 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo one of eight declared for this Grade 3 contest.
After a two-day break, racing resumes at Cork on Saturday, before Naas plays host to a quality card on Sunday, which features a Grade 1 contest.
ONE TO WATCH
Koktail Divin (Henry de Bromhead): The winner of two AQPS races in his native France, this Masked Marvel four-year-old created a favourable impression on his Irish debut at Leopardstown on Saturday. Starting off over flights, the Barry Maloney-owned bay kept on well in the closing stages, ultimately going down by just half-a-length. Encouragingly, he pulled nine lengths clear of the third and with normal improvement, he should prove hard to beat on his next start.
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