Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1)

CHRISTMAS at Leopardstown can mean only one thing and that is Sharjah in the Matheson Hurdle and the Willie Mullins stalwart joined two of the all-time greats in Istabraq and Hurricane Fly as a four-time winner of this race.

As Patrick Mullins reflected after making it 21 Grade 1 victories for himself, not everything went to plan for Sharjah in his quest to further extend his stunning record in this race and he ultimately had to fight hard for this success.

As is the wont of good horses though, Sharjah still got it done despite not everything going his way.

Towards the end of the backstraight Sharjah appeared to be inconvenienced by a weakening rival and briefly looked to be on the backfoot.

As the long run to the line began after the hurdle before the turn-in (low-lying sun having led to the bypassing of the intended final flight), Patrick Mullins and Sharjah still had a number of lengths to find on old rival Zanahiyr who had struck for home.

Last bend

The decorated amateur was sitting motionless rounding the last bend and the stage looked set for him to pick off Zanahiyr rounding the bypassed final flight.

The latter would not go down without a fight though and got Sharjah off the bridle while also briefly looking as though he could upset the odds.

However, on a run-in he knows so well, the Susannah Ricci-owned Sharjah would not be denied and he raised his effort once more to get home by a neck from the four-year-old with former County Hurdle winner Saint Roi a further four and three-quarter lengths back in third.

“Patrick said he wasn’t as sharp as other years and as a result of the last being bypassed he got pushed out on to yesterday’s ground which blunted his speed in the last furlong. He’s been a spectacular horse for Rich, Susannah and Patrick. He’s been a special horse for that partnership,” said Mullins.

“It wasn’t good for the heart. He didn’t look comfortable going to the second last hurdle and I thought it wasn’t going to happen but Patrick seemed to coax and cod him before he really went for him.

“Maybe this year we might bypass the Dublin Racing Festival and go straight to Cheltenham as it hasn’t worked for him in the past coming back here in February but if Honeysuckle gets to Cheltenham she is going to be very hard to beat,” concluded Mullins.

Fury on the right Road again

Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1)

JUST when it seemed his career had stalled somewhat, Fury Road showed just what he can do when he brings his best to the track as he broke his maiden over fences in style with a commanding display in this three-mile Grade 1.

The runaway Troytown winner Run Wild Fred was favourite to give Gordon Elliott his fourth win in the last five runnings of this race and he ran a creditable second.

However, the day belonged to Fury Road (7/1) who looks to be restored to the immense promise he showed as a novice hurdler, as he produced a polished and clinical round of jumping.

At all stages of the race Fury Road looked to be doing everything at his leisure under Jack Kennedy as he stalked a pace set by Run Wild Fred who recovered very well from a howling error at the first fence in the backstraight.

Upper hand

When the runners came to the fence before the straight, which was actually the last due to low-lying sun, Run Wild Fred and Fury Road looked to hold the upper hand as Vanillier started to cry enough.

At this stage Fury Road was going very strongly and with cheekpieces to aid his cause, he maintained his challenge in taking style. He stretched away on the run to the bypassed last to finish eight lengths clear of Run Wild Fred, while there was a further 10-length gap back to Vanillier.

“It’s been a great few days and this was a great result. His novice hurdle form was good and I was a bit disappointed with him in the Drinmore which is why we put cheekpieces on him and I think we’ve seen the real Fury Road today,” reflected Elliott.

“He’s a horse with a lot of class and when he’s good he’s very good and I’d say he enjoyed the nice ground too. We’re a long way from Cheltenham yet but I’d say it will be the three miler for Fury Road.”

“Run Wild Fred ran well. He made that one mistake but otherwise he jumped brilliantly and I’d say he could have done with 10 more fences the way he jumps. He’d have been a good winner if you took Fury Road out of it,” added Elliott.