Grade 1 win for featured horse in OJA

Following the abandonment of day one of the Dublin Racing Festival, the action got underway twenty hours later than planned at Leopardstown on Sunday. Despite the fact Final Demand and Lossiemouth fluffed their lines in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase and Irish Champion Hurdle respectively, Kaid D'Authie and Majborough ensured Willie Mullins returned to Closutton with two more wins at the highest level. The latter was particularly impressive producing an awesome performance in the Dublin Chase defeating Marine Nationale by nine lengths. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the six year old had jumped scruffly on his first two runs this term but was much sharper here making all and powering clear from two previous winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Recording his fourth Grade 1 success, his jumping was spectacular and the J.P.McManus owned runner showed what he is capable of. He heads to Cheltenham next month seeking his second win at the Festival and a reproduction of this effort will make him nearly impossible to beat. 

Talk The Talk (3/1) was unfortunate not to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles when crumpling on landing after the last in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas. The former Stuart Crawford trained gelding gained ample compensation when collaring Ballyfad on the line in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. Racing enthusiastically in rear, J J Slevin's mount did well to reel in the front runners and this set him up for a tilt at the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. A strong early pace in the Festival opener will play to his strengths. The Joseph O'Brien trained winner is featured in the Stable Switchers section of One Jump Ahead.

With no problems expected at Leopardstown on Monday, the plan is to email the February Update to clients after racing. I am keen to see the next forfeit stage for next week's William Hill Hurdle at Newbury - they will be published on Monday morning. If you haven't ordered a copy of the Update, please head to the Publications section of the site.