Stars, Slips and Signals: The Big Takeaways From Leopardstown and Limerick

It has been a great few days of racing in the UK and Ireland, but especially over in Leopardstown and Limerick, a lot has been taught, stars have been born, and there is a lot to take as the season rolls on. From future stars emerging, to fan favourites deciding their paths for the season, here are some of the key takeaways from the festive racing.

El Cairos is a monster in the making

One of the big races of the week was definitely one which births racing stars every year, the big maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. This year's renewal featured two very interesting runners, Willie Mullins’ Doctor Du Mesnil, and Gordon Elliot’s El Cairos. El Cairos who was previously owned by David Maxwell and trained by Gary and Josh Moore was bought by Gordon Elliot and KTDA Racing during Maxwell’s dispersal sale at Cheltenham for a massive £400,000, a sale which turned a lot of heads. The horse did have some very attractive form prior to his stable debut, finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper, and went on to finish second at Punchestown in a  race he really should’ve won had been given a more positive ride.

On boxing day when he made his debut for Elliot, he went off as the 8/15 favourite after a lot of market support, and with former champion jockey Jack Kennedy in the saddle, it was likely a massive race was in store. From the off Kennedy looked comfortable, and an astounding turn of foot before the second last hurdle put the five year old in front in a canter. His speed looked impeccable, it looked like he would win by at least eight or nine lengths, that was before a very weird fall at the last put him out of the race. However, despite the fall, it was obvious that he was darting home, Kennedy hadn't even pressed go yet, and there was still plenty in the tank. As far as favourites for the Supreme Novice Hurdle go, El Cairos is 100% a worthy favourite. Kennedy had the race in his hands, but a spot of misfortune cost him the race, but as for El Cairos, 2 miles looks the trip, jumping was overall really crisp, and the speed was frightening and he is sure to be one of this season's big superstars. 

Narciso Has is really coming into his own for Mullins and McManus

Another big buy from France early in the season for Willie Mullins and owner JP McManus was for French hurdle winner Narciso Has, seeing himself as the Triumph Hurdle favouriter purely on reputation. His lone start over hurdles prior to Chriostmas came at Fairyhouse in the BAR 1 Betting Juvenile Hurdle in which he lost to a very smart rival, Mange Tout of Gordon Elliot, however what we saw at Leopardstown was a completely different showing. His debut at Fairyhouse showed how big and powerful he is as a three year old with plenty to offer, but a very raw and juvenile like performance saw him finish second to a very worthy competitor, however his run over Christmas was exactly what people were expecting to see.

Under Danny Mullins, Narciso Has bolted home for an 11 length victory, putting his name well in contention again for the Triumph Hurdle in March, and proving that his first start over in Ireland was just a rite of passage, and it only took him a month or so to get back on terms. After the second last Danny Mullins pressed go and he stayed on quickening very impressively to the line, and his stature and power as only a three year old looks like something that in years to come will be very dangerous, but his second outing over Irish soil shows he is one to fear for all, and it only took some getting used to to get him off the mark.

Romeo Coolio needs further, and Ballyburn needs shorter

Much like every year it has been Elliot Vs Mullins in most of the graded races over Christmas, but despite big wins of their own over the last couple of days, they both had a lot to learn, and awesome harsh realities as well. For Mullins the big lesson was with Ballyburn. They said he was destined to be a stayers hurdle candidate, and three miles over quick ground would be no problem after narrowly losing out to Teahupoo at Fairyhouse, but Elliot’s star stayer had other plans over the extended trip. For Mullins it seemed Ballyburn may have been poised to exploit Teahupoo over an unfamiliar track and unideal conditions, but it was hardly even a challenge for Jack Kennedy and the eight year old, but for Paul Townend and Ballyburn, it looked a slog after a mile and a half, and staying the big three doesn't look like a true possibility at the highest level for Ballyburn, and his path may need to be looked at differently now.

But it wasn’t all handing out lessons for Elliot, but it was a learning curve for some of his big stars as well. Romeo Coolio, his star chaser for this year did earn Christmas victory with a win in the grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase on Saturday, but just about, and two and a half or even three miles looks more suited for him. He did stay on very well to keep in touch with Irish Panther, and subsequently went on to win by half a length, but with how his stamina held up, it seems his best may come over further, and taking on a few more fences, and utilising his class instead of pure speed is the way to go for him, and is something Elliot has hinted about, and may now take a different path with following his Leopardstown appearance.

Henry De Bromhead looks to have a smart one in Koktail Divin

For a trainer who has had such success over the years, it has been tough losing stable jockey Rachel Blackmore along with a lot of star horses, however for Darragh O’Keefe and De Bromhead’s stable, one stood out over Christmas, Koktail Divin, a star in the making as a chaser for his stable, and one who could just turn out to be another Cheltenham victor for him. A dazzling 22 length victory over Willie Mullins’ Kiss Will was very eye-catching, his jumping was immaculate, and two and a half miles looks a very suited trip.

With horses like July Flower and Bob Olinger still keeping winning faith in the stable, Koktail Divin in the colours of former national winner Minella Indo is one to remember, and whatever De Bromhead decides to do going forward, he looks a classy type who could even step up in trip, and in future could be a pretty handy Gold Cup horse.