Festival feast of racing over busy Christmas period

As ever, it was a hugely busy week of racing action with the Leopardstown and Limerick Christmas meetings taking centre stage alongside the top quality action across the water.

It proved to be a St Stephens Day to remember for Kilkenny trainer Shark Hanlon as he scooped big race success wih stable star Hewick in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The victory continued the fairytale for a horse who cost just €850 at a sale in Goresbridge as he came from last to first to win in acracking finish at odds of 12-1.

Hewick was ridden by man of the moment Gavin Sheehan, and looked to have no chance at all for most of the race.

Shishkin had taken up the running from Frodon with over a mile to run and injected pace which had seemed too much for Hewick but helped by Shiskin falling a t the second last, the Hanlon trained star stayed on to down last year’s winner Bravemansgame in the final few strides.

An elated Shark spoke to ITV Sport afterwards.

“It’s unreal. I said to Gavin ‘listen, he will stay all day’ but they went very hard and he just couldn’t lay up with them.

“On a tougher track it will be a better job for him, but we are here today and he won which is amazing.

“Coming out of the back I thought we’d definitely be in the first three because he was just getting into a rhythm and just getting going. They were going plenty hard in front.

“We knew coming here there were three or four front-runners and if we were able to lay up with them we’d be happy.

“He cost €850 and I was watching a programme in the week and Ruby (Walsh) knocked him and I said ‘we’re flying now’ because every time Ruby knocks him we win!

“Straight to Cheltenham now. It’s probably the wrong race as he should go for the English National but there is only one Gold Cup.”

The Willie Mullins trained Allaho went off as favourite for the race but a sketchy jumping display resulted in the 10 year old finishing in third spot and he wasn’t the only big fancy to disappoint for the yard on the day after Facile Vega lost out in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

As is usually the case though, Mullins wasn’t down for long as he scooped five Grade 1 victories over the following three days as well as also claiming the big handicap of the week at the Foxrock venue.

The strength of his novice chasers was there for all to see with Grangeclare West and Gaelic Warrior both hugely impressive in their various wins at Leopardstown and Limerick respectively while there was also open company success for Galopin Des Champs, State Man and Dinoblue.

The performance of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase was without question the standout display in Ireland over the past few days as the multiple Grade 1 winner overcame defeats on his last two starts to demolish a talented field and maintain his four from four unbeaten chasing record at Leopardstown.

Mullins was wholesome in his praise as his stable star arguably produced his best ever display and is now evens favourite to retain his Gold Cup crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

“Paul (Townend) was keen to change tactics today, he wanted to bounce out and let him enjoy himself over the first few fences. I said ‘let’s do that’ because the last twice he was beaten and things didn’t work out.

“I think the horse gave it back to Paul. When I saw him jumping the first the way he did I thought ‘right, game on here today’.

“He fiddled a few fences after that but Paul was very happy at all stages and he showed his absolute stamina in the the way he galloped away from the third-last, down over the second-last and then up over the last.

“He put everything to bed coming around the last bend. I was hugely impressed by him.

“I didn’t know what to expect as his work had been a little bit indifferent at home. We tried a few different things with him and obviously they must have worked.

Away from the top graded victories, there was also a significant success for Willie and his nephew Danny in the €200,000 Paddy Power Handicap Steeplechase when Meetingofthewaters ran out a big winner.

The horse was originally bought by Willie’s son Patrick before moving on recently and Patrick and Danny had an eventful outing a day later at the conclusion of Gaelic Warrior’s win in last Thursday’s Guinness Faugheen Chase at Limerick with the cousins having a word or two after the finish line as a result of the pair’s mounts coming close to each other after the second last fence.