Sharjah goes back-to-back in the big one at Leopardstown

The Grade One two mile hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival went for the second year running to Sharjah and Patrick Mullins, the Matheson-backed closing day highlight this time completing an across the card treble for the Closutton team.

Mullins’ father Willie had already been responsible for Limerick victor, Cut The Mustard and Leopardstown scorer, Stormy Ireland for Sullivan Bloodstock Limited.

Many expected Klassical Dream (10/11 favourite) to take beating in the five-runner centrepiece, but he got the fourth flight seriously wrong and had a mountain to climb in the aftermath.

It was no great surprise in the circumstances to see him trail in last, as the sweet-travelling Sharjah put it to Petit Mouchoir in the straight.

Ridden to lead early on the run-in, Sharjah kept on well to beat Petit Mouchoir by three and three parts of a length. It was eight and a half lengths then to Coeur Sublime in third.

“He was good. Klassical Dream and Petit Mouchoir went at it and I think Klassical Dream probably just couldn't go the pace,” said Mullins.

“When he took off at that hurdle down the back I just took down my binoculars because I thought he wouldn't even make the hurdle.

“I don't know how he got over it. He seems fine but I'd imagine he's going to be very stiff in the morning with his hips or pelvis, or whatever. He dragged his hind legs through.

“Paul (Townend) got him back into the race but that effort had taken too much out of him.

“I could see Patrick really content on Sharjah the way he was sitting all the time but then when Klassical Dream came up his outside and I said he's going to bring him into the race too quickly.

“But what could he do, Patrick had to go with him. I'm sure he didn't want to challenge until much later and use his speed but he ended up having to go with Petit Mouchoir down to the last but then he got away from him.

“Ruby (Walsh) was reminding me there that if he hadn't been brought down last year he might have been second or third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. He's a good horse on nice ground.

“It's all to play for and he's improving away. He could come back here in February, we'll have a chat with Rich and Susannah (Ricci, owners) and see what they want to do.

“Patrick gets on with the horse and knows him really well so he might have an opinion about it too. We have a lot of opinions around our house now with David Casey and Ruby Walsh and everyone!

“It's good to get everyone's opinion about where we should go. We could put him away as well but there is a nice prize here at the Dublin racing festival and we'll see how he comes out of this.

“There was hardly a blow out of him there. Klassical Dream is blowing hard and he's going to improve, he'll have to improve on that, but I think the improvement is still there.

“Just at this stage of his career against these horses he's going to want much softer ground. The ground was too good.

“It was a good run too from Aramon for the new syndicate and he's probably going to aim a bit lower on better ground and we might look at a Flat campaign for him as well.

“We had a nice Christmas, probably not vintage but anytime you win a few Grade 1s and get other winners it has to be good.

“I always say a winner a day is good and if we get more well and good. We've had ups and downs but are happy enough.

“We had a few disappointments. Even Franco De Port down in Limerick today, I think he is a real good horse, but we'll get another day to show him off hopefully.”

For his part Patrick Mullins said: “I fancied him coming here today because the ground was right for him, the dry ground is a big help to him.

“He had been working very well at home and I thought the race might be run to suit him.

“They went very hard early on and then when Klassical Dream made a mistake they just slowed up a stride and my horse was jumping so well he ended up jumping into second. I didn't want to be there seven furlongs out.

“Down to the second last Paul arrived on my outside and I didn't want to be going forward at that stage but luckily Paul's fell away after the second last and I was able to come and take Petit Mouchoir when I wanted, just before the last.

“The middle of the race mightn't have gone to plan but it ended up working out anyway.

“I'm always wary of Rachael's horse because I think they find an awful lot for her. When she was pushing away I was wary that she might have more up her sleeve.

“We needed a good jump at the last and we got it thank-God. I just wanted to keep a hold of him as long as I could.

“He wears a tongue-strap and I think he only has a certain run in him. They went a really strong gallop and I wanted to wait as long as I could.

“In hindsight if I had gotten him beat in the Galway Hurdle with two stone lower it would have been a fair bad ride.

“Two years ago we came down to the last here in the same position and fell. We've made up for that thank-God.”

Sharjah is 14/1 from 25/1 with Paddy Power for the Champion Hurdle, a market where Epatante is 5/2 favourite from 7/2 joint market-leader.

Klassical Dream meanwhile is out to 10/1 from his joint market-leading position at 7/2.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Klassical Dream (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

(GC & EM)