Party Playboy strolls home at his leisure

Party Playboy (11/8 fav) was a clearcut eleven length winner of the Christmas Party Race Day December 14th Rated Novice Hurdle under Mikey Fogarty.

The market leader gradually reeled in longtime clear leader Gold Speed and led going to two out.

From there he stretched clear of Definite Plan (7/2), with another twelve lengths back to Our Friend (10/1) in third, while Gold Speed finished fourth in the end.

The German-bred winner, a five-year-old by Samum, started his career on the Flat in his native land and France, but his Down Royal handicap hurdle win in June had been his only previous victory in either discipline.

His standout run was his on his previous start, when a hugely creditable second at 50/1 behind Stratum in the Emirates Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October.

“I thought he was entitled to do that and it’s just a relief that he has it done, said winning trainer Tony Mullins.

“We are thinking now if he recovers well we might go to Carlisle on Sunday 15th for a Pertemps Qualifier. It might be an easier qualifier as the one in Leopardstown is a grueller.

“The man who bought him for me, Bernard Cullinan, said you will only see the best of him in real heavy ground so I hope he’s right. He’ll get a fair whack for that but he needs it to get into where we are thinking of going. You can’t have it every way.

“He’s had 23 runs and only one win off 102 over hurdles so it’s a relief that he’s won. They won’t let a (Flat) maiden with his rating into the race in Saudi Arabia but Cheltenham will do us!

“We can have one eye on the Cesarewitch next year as well.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee