CHAMPIONS CROWNED ALREADY

Karl Hedley gets stuck into the early jumps action in Ireland where new stars are already emerging

- Karl Hedley

The action over the jumps is heating up as winter descends and trainers are deciding upon which races to aim their stable stars at. 

The Festival of Racing at Down Royal always pulls in a decent crowd over the two days and this year was no exception, despite having to delay the annual fixture due to inclement weather. Gordon Elliott would end up having a hugely successful meeting to the delight of his owners and followers who passed through the gates, saddling no fewer than 11 winners across the two days, at the Maze just outside of Lisburn in County Down.

Ahead of that meeting, there was a good meeting at Thurles on the opening day of the month. One that caught the eye in a two-mile maiden hurdle was Lecky Watson. He was made to work harder than expected for this win, but he will certainly improve for it.

A runner-up on his first three starts last season, the Valirann five-year-old ran a huge race to finish fourth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Since beaten into fifth at the Punchestown festival thereafter, the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned gelding was expected to make the breakthrough this afternoon, stepping up in trip and starting overflights. Sent off a well-backed favourite and never far from the pace under Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained market leader raced keenly early on, taking closer order on the outer after the third last flight.

Ridden before the last, he ultimately outstayed his rivals on the run-in, getting the better of the gallant Rushmount by a neck. Michael O’Sullivan was aboard the runner-up for Jonathan Sweeney, while the front-running Shannon Royale was another two-lengths away in third.

“His jumping was lovely but he was gassy and fresh,” Townend commented.