WITH jumps racing back in full swing now, it seems appropriate to be talking about a runner from the Willie Mullins yard. We just weren’t expecting it to be a two-year-old at Leopardstown running over seven furlongs, writes Page Fuller.

Candleford Green caught the eye in the fillies maiden (17:40) only just failing on her racecourse debut. She was slow away and held early, forfeiting 0.79 seconds in the first furlong alone to the eventual winner Just Before.

The pace was not strong early, but then quickened dramatically at halfway. At the end of the fourth furlong, Candleford Green was 1.14 seconds, or five and a half lengths, behind the winner and had a lot of ground to make up at a time when the rest of the field were quickening. Her effort in the home straight from there was very impressive. She completed the final two furlongs just over a second faster than Just Before, and she only failed by a short head.

The race may not hold the strongest of form, but she did more than enough to suggest that she will be landing a race like this in no time. She should come on for the experience too and looks an exciting young filly for next season.