Top 40 winners Future Prospect & Majborough

Following a frustrating spell of seconditis, the Top 40 Prospects has unleashed three exciting prospects in the last 24 hours. Hot on the hoofs of Kel Histoire's victory on his Irish debut at Cork on Friday, Majborough made a sparkling start to his chasing career with an impressive six and a half lengths win at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Last season's Triumph Hurdle winner had reportedly schooled well beforehand and the four year old was immediately sent to the front under Mark Walsh. Despite showing a tendency to edge to his left - on his first run on a right-handed track - Willie Mullins' runner produced some fine leaps, including at the fourth last. Challenged by stablemates Tullyhill and Asian Master turning for home, J.P.McManus' gelding jumped the last two fences well before pulling away on the run-in. A big powerful sort, he can only improve for his seasonal reappearance and will be even better when racing left-handed. Connections nominated a Graded novice chase at Naas early in the New Year (5th January) before a likely trip to the DRF at Leopardstown the following month. He is a tremendous prospect and every inch a Gold Cup horse in the making. It will either the Arkle or Brown Advisory at Cheltenham in March - which one, is anyone's guess at this stage.

The card at Fairyhouse was rounded off with a fillies' bumper which has been won by the likes of Grade 1 winners Coolrevy (2017) and Brandy Love (2020). That pair were trained by the Closutton outfit and Ireland's champion trainer was responsible for the 2024 winners, too, in the shape of Future Prospect. Bought for £150,000 at the Cheltenham Festival Sale in March, the former Denis Murphy trained filly couldn't have made a better start to her Rules career with an emphatic nine lengths win under Patrick Mullins. While she didn't look the most straightforward early on, she maintained a decent gallop before powering clear in the homestraight. The Grade 2 mares' bumper at Leopardstown in February will presumably be next before heading to Cheltenham in March. The daughter of Order of St George looks another cracker for the Top 40. 

I am working at Carlisle on Sunday and will then resume work on the Christmas Special. If you haven't ordered your copy, please head to the Publications section of the site. The Christmas Special is £8.00.