Boxing day saw seven Graded races in the Uk and Ireland including five Grade 1s.
The King George at Kempton provided what many people consider to be one of the best National Hunt races ever! The Harry Redknapp owned, Ben Pauling trained and Ben Jones ridden The Jukebox Man prevailed by a nose from last years victor Banbridge with another nose back to Gaelic Warrior in third and half a length back to Jango Baie in fourth. A truly remarkable finish and a race for the ages. A magnificent advert for the sport and racing should be proud. I would imagine the first four home here will meet again in March in the Gold Cup with next years renewal currently wide open.
The Kauto Star Novices Chase saw an impressive winner in Kitzbuhel who made all under Paul Townend for trainer Wilie Mullins, He jumped for fun and ran the opposition into the ground and won two and a half lengths unchallenged. Sir Gino took the Christmas Hurdle for the same owners, the Donnelly’s, beating current Champion Hurdler Golden Ace and now heads Ante Post lists at around 13/8. This five-year-old is still unbeaten after seven races, six of which were in the UK.
Up at Aintree the Formby Novice Hurdle saw the one-time Supreme Novice favourite Mydaddypaddy beaten by the Harry Fry trained Idaho Sun who moved up to Grade 1 company after a facile Novice win at Bangor last month.
Over the water at Leopardstown the Racing Post Novice Chase was the feature. Romeo Coolio for Gordon Elliott scrambled home by half a length over what now looks likely to be an inadequate trip. He did knuckle down and deserves great credit after looking outpaced turning in to the straight. Two and half miles plus awaits I’d think. Earlier on the card the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle went to the Willie Mullins trained and JP owned Narciso Has who won impressively under Danny Mullins by eleven lengths from outsider Adrienne. The Defender Novice Hurdle at Limerick went to another Gordon Elliot trained horse called Kazansky who won by a head under Danny Gilligan from local trainer Eric McNamara’s charge County Final.
Saturday 27th saw lots of Graded action too. Ben Pauling and Ben Jones took another big race win when Mambonumberfive took the Wayward Lad Novice Chase by seven lengths, while we saw an equally impressive performance from Thistle Ask in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase for the Skeltons.
Over at Chepstow the Finale Juvenile Hurdle went to rookie trainer Chester Williams and provided him with his biggest career win to date. Tenter Le Tout followed up her Exeter win under Gavin Sheehan. The Gary and Josh Moore trained odds on favourite Macktoad was never going and it looked as though something was amiss. Time will tell…
The three miles and six furlongs of the Welsh National always takes some getting even on Good to Soft ground and the locals were treated to a Welsh winner courtesy of Haiti Couleurs who bounced back after a dismal effort in the Betfair Chase at Haydock when second favourite in the market. The 2025 National Hunt Chase winner and the Irish National winner earlier in the spring took up the running with a circuit to run under Sean Bowen. Apart from a mistake three out he jumped well and had three lengths to spare at the line beating the northern raider O’Connell. Trainer Rebecca Curtis has handled this gelding so well and we would like to see him have a tilt at the Gold Cup, Grand National or both!
At Leopardstown the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase saw Solness take this for the second year running this time ridden by Sam Ewing deputising for JJ Slevin who was stood down after a fall. Hard game. As was last year, he ran prominently and kept wide of the field staying on bravely when challenged by Marine Nationale holding on by half a length. Congratulations to the owners and trainer Joseph O’Brien. The Future Champions Novice Hurdle was won readily in the end by Skylight Hustle for Gordon Elliott and Jockey Jack Kennedy. The Double Green owned Talk The Talk another Joseph O’Brien inmate looked to be the winner when travelling very nicely only to fall at the last. A very unlucky loser in my opinion.
The Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick was a nice winner for Henry De Bromhead after The Big Westerner took the honours under Mike O’Connor beating the Willie Mullins trained favourite Jade Du Grugy by three lengths.