NOT only did Willie Mullins claim the two top-level events on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, he delivered the most impressive maiden hurdle winner of the festive period in the shape of Ballyburn, who franked Firefox’s form with a 25-length demolition job.

The 2/9 favourite, owned by Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh, was in a different league to his rivals in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle under Paul Townend and was promoted to 4/1 favourite (from 7/1) for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

“He did what we were hoping he might do at Fairyhouse last time [when second to Firefox],” said Mullins.

“I felt he had improved hugely from Fairyhouse and I’m hoping there’s plenty more improvement to come. He was probably beaten in a sprint that day.

“He settled well enough. That’s what I was worried about, that he would get too keen. That is more his comfort zone today over two and a half miles.I’m not thinking of anything in terms of plans yet.”

Fahy on target

Mullins emerged with 16 winners over the festive period - matching his total from last year - but probably his best backed horse of Christmas came unstuck in the Timeless Sash Windows Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle when Linden Arden (10/11 favourite from 16/1 overnight) failed to fire in sixth.

It was the Pat Fahy-trained Champagne Admiral, owned by Clipper Logistics, who made all under a fine ride from Michael O’Sullivan to score at 12/1, improving nicely from his previous maiden hurdle success at Limerick.

Fahy said: “It was an unbelievable ride by Michael. We were happy with his mark [115] but the handicapper is rarely wrong, as we know. In fairness, maybe he did give us a little bit of a chance, but he’s a good horse.”

Cheltenham dream alive

Silver Concorde won the concluding Plusvital Bumper here in 2014 on his way to winning that season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and Gordon Elliott is plotting the same route for this year’s impressive winner Jalon D’oudairies, who proved too strong for the long-absent Redemption Day.

Harry Swan delivered a well-judged ride on Gigginstown House Stud’s £420,000 point-to-point acquisition to win by two and three quarters of a length at 9/4. The No Risk At All gelding was initially knocked down to Willie Mullins and Harold Kirk as a €75,000 store but ended up in the care of Donnchadh Doyle when winning between the flags.

Elliott, who had eight winners over the festive period, said: “He’s our Cheltenham bumper horse. We think he’s nice. I thought he showed some attitude to have to make the running - we didn’t really want to. I thought it was a good performance.

“He’ll go straight there now. Jack Kennedy is booked and all ready to go! I’m delighted with how this week has gone.”

Grade 1 aim for Jetara after ready hat-trick

JESSICA Harrington operates with a reduced National Hunt string nowadays but she can still pull an ace out of the pack at the big meetings, as she showed when saddling Jetara for an easy seven-and-a-half-length win in the Grade 3 BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.

Jack Kennedy, sporting the colours of Gerry McGrath, kept matters simple on the beautifully-bred Walk In The Park mare and was always in control when the runners had to bypass the final hurdle due to low-lying sun.

The 5/2 winner never looked like being caught by a staying-on Pink In The Park.

Harrington said: “She jumped and settled, and Jack couldn’t believe how much she picked up. He thought he had got there plenty soon enough but when he asked her, she picked up well.

“She’ll be better on better ground; the whole family want better ground. We’ll probably come back here for the Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. We might as well because she’s still a novice.

“Then we will probably wait for Fairyhouse, which is early this year, for the Grade 1 [Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle].”

Rothwell keeps rolling

It might only be the end of December but a winner in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase saw Philip Rothwell reach his best ever total for a season, as Galon De Vauzelle pulled clear to make it winner number 33 of the campaign for the in-form trainer.

The Tom Doran-owned 10/1 chance, ridden by Paddy O’Hanlon, had finished a respectable third in the same race 12 months ago behind Cheltenham Festival winner Seddon.

Rothwell said: “I was confident of a big run today. He was 4lb higher this year and we fitted blinkers for the first time not because he isn’t genuine, but just to sharpen him up. He is extremely genuine and such a gorgeous horse.

“We went through two bad years seven years ago, and it’s been a slow rebuild. We’ve had good seasons in recent years too - we’ve been solid for three years. We need a flagship horse, though, and are hoping to find one. We have wonderful support and terrific staff.”

Crowd watch

Attendances for the four days at Leopardstown were up on 2022 levels, with 62,049 attending the Festival this week (compared to 60,478 last year). The final day crowd figure was 11,804 (up from 11,601 last year).