STAMINA often comes to the fore on testing ground at Limerick’s Christmas Festival, and few were bred better for that test than Changeyourstars when it came to last month’s Earl Of Harrington Mares Maiden Hurdle at the Munster venue.

There aren’t many more demanding assignments in National Hunt racing than Uttoxeter’s four-mile-two-furlong Midlands National when the ground turns testing, and Changeyourstars is a half-sister to Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies smart stayer Beauport, who galloped on resolutely to capture that well-known handicap on heavy ground back in 2024. The same gelding has won at listed and Grade 3 level, as well as finishing third in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, so it should come as no surprise that his sibling is beginning to make a name for herself in her own right.

Across a festive period that saw Gordon Elliott notch 18 winners, Willie Mullins record 11 victories and Henry de Bromhead visit the winner’s enclosure on five occasions, it was no mean feat for four-horse trainer James King to get his name on the scoresheet amidst a host of quality racing.

Working closely with his brother Pa, who has ridden over 200 point-to-point winners and struck at the Cheltenham Festival on Angels Dawn in the 2023 Kim Muir, the Co Tipperary team took plenty of satisfaction from their first success under rules since 2020.

From only a small number of track runners since winning with his first runner in 2016, this Limerick victory represented a sixth under rules for the trainer, who was delighted for owners Anthony Ryan and the Philip Brady Partnership to pick up an additional €7,500 payout under the Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme.

“We were very happy to see her do what she did at Christmas - we think she’s a good mare,” James King tells The Irish Field.

“The runner-up [Galileo Dame] is obviously smart and has been placed in good company over hurdles, so it was a nice performance from our mare. In fairness to Phillip Enright, he gave her a savage ride, just as he did the previous day at Fairyhouse when she was second. As well as that, he gave us good guidance as to where we should be going with her too.”

Keeping the faith

That near-miss at Fairyhouse might have come as a surprise to many, given her SP of 50/1, but King insists connections have always held the daughter of Shirocco in good regard.

“There’s no shame in saying it, but we ran her twice on the wrong ground before she went to Fairyhouse [when down the field in a Cork bumper and a Clonmel maiden hurdle],” he explains.

Changeyourstars and Philip Enright (near side) get the better of Grade 1-placed Galileo Dame to win the Earl Of Harrington Mares Maiden Hurdle at Limerick \ Healy Racing

“She needs a dig in the ground and it was our own fault. The minute she got the ground she likes at Fairyhouse, she showed us exactly what we thought she would do. Once we got the ground, 50/1 didn’t make any difference to us. We all backed her each-way and were happy enough that she was that price!”

He adds: “We’ve had her since she was a three-year-old. She’s bred by the vet Anthony Ryan. We went to the sales with her after she won her point-to-point at Tallow in February of last year and it didn’t work as we had hoped [not sold at £72,000], but we were always happy to train her on if we didn’t get the right amount for her. We always felt there was a good day out in her, and we think there’s another one in her again.”

There were happy celebrations for the Glenbane, Co Tipperary operation after winning the same race won by Grade 1 star Colreevy in 2019 - and beating horses representing the big guns of Joseph O’Brien, Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell. It is very much a family-orientated yard.

“We only tip away with small numbers, there’s just four in the yard,” says King.

Brothers in arms

“Whatever we have that is good enough to go to the track will. If we can get the job done after a point-to-point, that’s fine. We’re never afraid to try; we’ve had a few winners on the track over the years.

“Between myself and Pa at home, I’d be lost without him. To have that kind of man to do all the schooling, work and those things, he’d give you a great guide. It’s a great kick for everyone to get a winner over Christmas - that’s what it’s all about, and another reason to celebrate around then!”

The handicapper has assigned Changeyourstars an opening mark of 118, and trying to make use of that rating could be next on the agenda for her once the dust settles on her Limerick breakthrough.

King says: “There’s no major plan we’ve made yet. After two runs with her on testing ground, we’re happy to take our time because you never know how much it takes out of them. We might look towards a nice handicap with her.”

On the extra benefit of collecting a cheque under the Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus Scheme, he adds: “It’s a great scheme and I’d be extremely positive about it. It’s savage money to be picking up, on top of good prize money. Everything adds up. We’ve had a bit of luck with mares down the years and that money goes a long way.”