The jumps season is beginning to get into full swing and the stable tours are gradually being unveiled. The excitement gradually builds and the one that mattered most dropped on Wednesday.
Social media waited patiently for Willie Mullins to reveal all.
Well, something is better than nothing. There was nothing earth-shattering but just marvelling at the galaxy of stars at his disposal for the season was more than enough to whet the appetite for the season.
The strength in depth is frightening and Mullins is predictably, and rightfully, keeping his cards close to his chest.
Stable tours are a useful tool. Nothing about them is definitive but it’s a starting point and a rough roadmap for the season ahead. It’s also interesting to note the comments of trainers on certain horses and marry them up with your own opinion.
Majborough won the 2024 Triumph Hurdle in taking fashion and will now go chasing
Majborough takes up a good position in the 2024 Triumph Hurdle under Mark Walsh
The odd quote stands out. The odd specific race target stands out. And even in the guarded world of Mullins, there are useful pointers.
The master of Closutton has unwavering belief in the last two Triumph Hurdle winners.
Majborough is a huge gelding that is destined to be a top-class staying chaser. Lossiemouth is a compact, speedy mare that will challenge at the top table in two-mile hurdles.
Two completely contrasting types that have started their careers at the same point and it will be fascinating how they develop. It’s testament to Mullins’ resourcefulness and training talent to win the Triumph back-to-back with two vastly different types of horses.
On 2024 Triumph winner Majborough, Mullins told the Sporting Life: ‘He’s a huge horse, I couldn’t believe he was a juvenile when he arrived here – he looked like a ready-made chaser.
I think that’s what we’re going to do this year, go novice chasing with him.
He only had two runs last season, he was third at Leopardstown and then turned the form around and won the Triumph Hurdle.
‘We put him away, he’s such a big animal and we felt he didn’t have much more to prove. He jumps so well so we’re going straight to novice chasing with him.
I know he’s only four but he didn’t have a hard season. It’s tough for four-year-olds to go chasing – I know they get a bit of an allowance early in the season – but I’m not going to over-race him as a novice and hopefully his ability will come out and he’ll be a decent horse in the spring.
His form is standing up everywhere and with his size and scope he’s just a real chaser.
Lossiemouth won the Mares’ Hurdle last year and the 2023 Triumph at the Festival
‘We were probably surprised how well he jumped hurdles for a horse of his size, that he took note of them.
A lot of horses his size they don’t take any notice, but he’s very intelligent and we’re really looking forward to him.
Coming up that hill [in the Triumph] he was eating up ground – he has a huge, long stride – and took the last quite well.
He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with, I just hope his age doesn’t get in the way.
‘Up to the last few years four-year-olds got a good allowance but that’s disappeared [later in the season]. It’s going to be tough for him but he has the ability and may as well learn this game at a young age.
I think he’ll be a right chaser in the future. I never mind too much in Ireland where we start them off – two miles, two-two, two and a half, even a bit more if we have to.
I’d rather just start them when they’re ready for their first run and then whatever chase is around.
‘As they go up in grade then we might come back to the trip that suits them best. Most Triumph horses want a trip as they get older so he shouldn’t have any problem going out in trip.’
The way Mullins waxes lyrical about Majborough was reminiscent of the way he talked about Fact To File.
He went straight over fences without hurdling last season and won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Majborough is one to seriously note for the future, even if he’s light on experience.
Mullins is equally bullish about 2023 Triumph winner Lossiemouth.
She won the Mares Hurdle easily and there was, and still is, widespread suspicion that she’ll try to defend her title rather than aim for the Champion Hurdle.
On Lossiemouth, Mullins said: ‘We took it easy last year with just three runs and she was good in all of them.
She’ll have a busier year this year, aiming for the Champion Hurdle. We’re looking forward to having a crack at the Champion Hurdle.
She had a busy season as a juvenile and that’s why we didn’t do too much with her last year and I think she has come back good and strong for it.
I think she has the ability to have a crack at State Man and Constitution Hill or whatever lines up for the Champion Hurdle.
You’ve got to be able to win over two and a half miles to win a Champion Hurdle.
If you only barely get two miles you could be found out.
Most Champion hurdlers have stamina and you need that bit of speed to be good at two and a half miles, so she has everything I think.
Paul Townend and Lossiemouth are hailed in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham
Jumping ability, speed, stamina, she’s going to be a big player I think in the Champion Hurdle.’
How relevant all this information will be for punters is debatable but Mullins has given a vote of confidence to this star duo.
It’ll be interesting to see how far there star juveniles can go this season.
One thing is for sure. There will be more triumphs than just the Triumph.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK…
It would be easy to opt for something from Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup weekend but the prolonged duel between ENVOI ALLEN and Hewick was jump racing at its brilliant best. Envoi Allen prevailed by half a length in the Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Both horses were brave and genuine in a terrific duel that showcased jumps racing at its finest.
SELECTION OF THE WEEK…
Jan Brueghel was controversially scratched from the Melbourne Cup this week and the withdrawal of the favourite opens the door for BUCKAROO (5-1, Ladbrokes) to shrug off his rivals.
The alarm will have to be set early for 4am on Tuesday but Buckaroo enjoyed a lovely preparation when he was the only horse to make up ground when second in the Caulfield Cup behind Duke De Sessa a few weeks ago.
The step up in trip looks sure to suit and the five-year-old can keep the prize Down Under for trainer Chris Waller.
