Kawaboomga

(Willie Mullins)

Leopardstown, December 26th

Despite a round of jumping that left plenty to be desired, Kopek Des Bordes proved what a massive talent he is when winning Leopardstown’s opening maiden hurdle of the Christmas period. In defeat, however, there was also a bright beginning to the Irish career of Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Kawaboomga, who had previously won a French bumper before finishing third over hurdles at Auteuil. J.P. McManus’ four-year-old finished four lengths in front of impressive Navan Racing Festival bumper winner Whinney Hill and probably did well to get within two and three parts of a length of Kopek Des Bordes after that rival and the third built up an advantage on the field.

Dont Tell Jack

(Joseph O’Brien)

Leopardstown, December 26th

Further back in the same maiden hurdle, 19 lengths off the winner to be exact, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Dont Tell Jack ran a race of some promise too in the green and gold silks. It was difficult to fully track his run in foggy conditions, as he ended up well back in the pack after a mistake at the first that appeared to leave his rider a little unbalanced briefly, but the manner in which he ran on was promising. According to Coursetrack data, the half-brother to Grade 2-winning stayer Hillcrest was the third fastest in the race through the final furlong despite failing to collect any prize money in seventh. The Affinisea gelding, out of Grade 3-winning mare Shop Dj, has the potential to improve when upped in trip but could be an interesting handicap candidate in time, with this being his second run over hurdles.

Walks In June

(Henry de Bromhead)

Leopardstown, December 26th

Henry de Bromhead had a St Stephen’s Day to remember when saddling four winners across three tracks. One of his beaten runners on the day looks set to visit the number-one spot before long too. Walks In June didn’t go unbacked (sent off the 5/2 favourite) ahead of his rules bow and the former Colin Bowe-trained point-to-point winner demonstrated a decent level of ability in third behind Green Splendour. Again, in foggy conditions it wasn’t easy to follow every single stage of the race, but it appeared to be a tactically-run bumper. The winner, Green Splendour, always had the front-running second Khmer in his sights, and perhaps Walks In June ended up a little further back than what worked out to be an optimal position. It could be argued that he lacked a gear at one point, but he actually quickened up well at the business end - faster than any runner in the field through the final three furlongs. By Walk In The Park and out of a half-sister to Cheltenham Festival winner Empire Of Dirt, this four-year-old has a pedigree to be smart and finished out strongly.

Shoda

(Joseph O’Brien)

Limerick, December 26th

Shoda was a capable filly on the flat in 2024 for Joseph O’Brien, providing Tom Hamilton with a farewell winner when scoring in a mile-and-a-half maiden at the Galway Festival before finishing fourth off a mark of 82 at the Curragh. Experience can count for plenty in juvenile hurdles, as proven again by stablemate Out For A Stroll winning a Limerick maiden hurdle at the fourth attempt over flights, and Shoda hinted at the potential to win a similar race when third in that opening three-year-old event at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day. She ended up being last of the main group (only two detached rivals behind) with four flights to jump in a race that Timeform described as “steadily run… things starting to unfold only from the home turn and the winner better placed than many.” Her jumping was sticky early but improved as the race developed. There’s surely at least a day in her over obstacles before the campaign is out with natural improvement from this.

Workinonadream

(Philip Rothwell)

Limerick, December 27th

The beautifully-bred Uhavemeinstitches, swishing her tail late on, probably had a bit more in the tank than a winning margin of a length and a half suggests in a two-and-a-half-mile mares’ maiden hurdle at Limerick - and there were other disappointments in the race who can help to pick holes in the form - but the 40/1 runner-up Workinonadream now looks to be closing in on a first success. Second in her first three bumpers for John McConnell, she didn’t appear to fully kick on from there while still running with credit on a few occasions. This goes down as a career-best, however. She dug in well in the face of a fairly stiff task and this suggested she could step back up in trip, or else appreciate a strongly-run handicap at this trip. Her Christmas showing indicated she’s now really finding her feet with Philip Rothwell.

Collaborative

(Oliver McKiernan)

Limerick, December 27th

There were a few potentially well-handicapped types on paper in the two-mile handicap hurdle restricted to horses rated 102 or less at Limerick, and the race could prove a little better than your standard contest for the low grade. Collaborative caught the eye on his previous outing - his handicap debut - at Clonmel and was beaten by a similar margin here when third. A 44,000gns purchase by Fastnet Rock from Dermot Weld’s yard, his promising flat debut came on testing ground in a mile-and-a-half-maiden at the Curragh (finishing fourth of 20 runners).Additionally, his useful Galileo dam, Magen’s Star, was able to win over as far as a mile and six furlongs on the flat, so perhaps a slight step up in trip and slower ground could be a help to this unexposed hurdler for the Oliver McKiernan team. He should get his turn despite another 1lb nudge to 102 for this effort.

Kalix Delabarriere

(Willie Mullins)

Leopardstown, December 28th

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Willie Mullins yard over a Christmas window that they typically make their own. Several of the champion trainer’s runners failed to produce their best form and it could well be the case that they leave behind these efforts as the season goes on. In the pre-race comments on his website, Mullins noted that Kalix Delabarriere “jumps well but experience might beat him today. However, we have always thought he is top drawer and is one that can be followed for the rest of the season.” The Closutton team won the same two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle with the exciting Kaid d’Authie and Kalix Delabarriere wasn’t slick enough over his obstacles to make any impression - a bad mistake at the third last an example of that. He faded to be beaten 24 lengths in fourth and could prove this run is not reflective of his true ability in due course when smartening up his jumping. The form of his Ballinrobe bumper win back in May has really been enhanced since by runner-up Seo Linn scoring in listed company at Cheltenham.

River Vale

(Mick Winters)

Limerick, December 29th

In the final race of the 2024 Limerick Christmas Festival, there was a pleasing handicap introduction for Mick Winters’ River Vale, who connections have had to be patient with. Having turned nine this week, the point-to-point winner has only made four starts under rules. That said, the brother to ill-fated Grade 3 handicap chase winner Abuffalosoldier (peak Racing Post Rating of 139) appears to have the ability to win races and he stuck to his task well under pressure on his second start after a 431-day layoff, only beaten a length by a 4/1 chance, who was strong in the betting. A 3lb nudge for this takes River Vale to a rating of 100, crucially keeping him within the cut-off point for the new bottom grade of racing in 2025 (80-95 handicaps now becoming 0-100 contests). If he can find natural improvement from this first try in a handicap, a breakthrough win under rules should be in the offing. He beat listed novice hurdle winner Oscars Brother in a point-to-point back in May 2023 - that rival now up to an official mark of 135.