ON the cusp of some tremendous action from Kempton and Leopardstown, we may have seen two future stars last weekend in the shape of Majborough, who created a big impression on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse, and Future Prospect, who did everything wrong but still bolted up in the bumper.

Mark Walsh was effusive in his praise for Majborough in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained novice defeated stable companion Tullyhill on his chasing debut. Such was the impression that he created, he is now the 5/1 second favourite for the Arkle behind stable companion Ballyburn.

The visual impression he created is backed up by the Race IQ data that he produced and, as such, he is a horse to be very excited about.

Majborough started his career in France, winning a novice hurdle at Auteuil and then moved to the Willie Mullins yard last season racing just twice and winning the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen.

That success over stable companion Kargese showed him to be a very good jumper of a hurdle and showcased his speed. In the Triumph, he gained ground on the field at seven of the eight hurdles and achieved a Race IQ jump index score of 8.1 out of 10.

The reason he achieved that above average score is the fact that he lost little speed at his hurdles. At six of the hurdles, he lost less than three miles an hour and through the race his average loss was 2.51mph.

For context, Slade Steel, who won the Supreme Novices Hurdle, averaged a loss of 3.4mph. Not only was he fast over his hurdles, but fast on the flat, recording a Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of 104.26% and, in so doing, was easily the fastest horse in the race over the final four furlongs.

Majborough translated those two major assets of swift jumping and flat speed to his chasing debut last Saturday. His jumping was exceptional for a horse making his debut over fences.

He jumped much better than his rivals, gaining 15.21 lengths on the field and, such was his speed and efficiency over his fences, he achieved a RaceIQ Jump index score of 9.4 out of 10. It is rare for chasers at any grade to achieve such a number, let alone a beginner. Interestingly, Ballyburn who won on his debut over fences at Punchestown, put in a below average round of fencing, achieving a Jump Index score of only 6.7 out of 10.

Majborough gained ground on his rivals at nine out of the 10 fences, his only slight mistake coming at the sixth fence. His round of jumping and the steep ascendancy of his jumping line of the last three fences represents gains of 1.56 lengths, 2.84 lengths and a spectacular gain of 5.26 lengths at the last.

This round of jumping was achieved in a steadily run race, which ensured that all the runners finished relatively strongly. All of them achieving an FSP above 100%.

Majborough sprinted through the final two furlongs and, that he was able to jump the final two fences whilst accelerating, is testament to how natural he was over his fences.

His raw speed was advertised by a final four furlongs that created an FSP of 111.99%. This finishing effort was bettered only by Future Prospect in the last and she had no obstacles in her way.

Majborough’s closing two furlongs were impressive when compared to the runner-up Tullyhill.

Final two-furlong splits

Majborough: F16: 13.08s / F17: 12.87s

Tullyhill: F16: 13.41s / F17: 13.90s

This superiority was achieved without Mark Walsh asking him for maximum effort and he emerges from this as a horse of tremendous ability, who would be a danger to all, including Ballyburn should the Arkle be his chosen race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Future is one bright Prospect

IT is rare that you see a newcomer manage to win so impressively on debut and as obviously inexperienced as Future Prospect in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 4yo Fillies Flat Race.

Such was the impression she created, she was installed as the 14/1 second favourite for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

She had won her sole start in points, but that experience seemed lost on her, as she pulled hard in the early stages of the race, albeit able to dictate her own fractions from the front. That free-going nature saw her struggle to handle the bend going out on the second circuit, where she hung badly and gave Patrick Mullins a tricky time.

The impressive part of the performance came when she straightened for home and sprinted clear of her rivals to win by nine lengths. The steady nature of the gallop enabled her to save energy for the strong finish, but even so, in recording an FSP of 114.02%, she produced the fastest final four furlongs on the eight-race card.

Her rivals also finished fast as they saved energy for strong finishes, but they just could not match her speed. The final four furlongs of the first three are recorded below.

1st Future Prospect: 38.75s

2nd Galileo Springs: 40.21s

3rd Swing Davis: 40.96s

If we break those numbers down further into individual splits, we find that this filly recorded 12.14s for the penultimate furlong, which equates to 37.32mph.

The next fastest speed achieved on the card came from Majborough, who recorded a top speed of 35.59mph.

This impressive furlong did not come in isolation. Through the final four furlongs, she increased her pace through each individual furlong until slowing down in the final furlong, showing sustained pace, which culminated in that impressive top speed.

If she is to win the Champion Bumper, she will need to show that she is able to use her speed in a stronger run race and her keen going demeanour and lack of tractability is a slight worry, but for now, her wayward tendencies must be put down to inexperience, as there is no doubt that she has the raw ability and speed to enable her to take on much better company, probably next time out.