RACING: A ST STEPHEN'S Day crowd of 16,744 squeezed into the start of Leopardstown's Christmas festival, although removing those who managed to back the 12 to 1 big-race winner Follow The Plan wouldn't have freed up too much holiday space.
It was Britain's champion trainer Paul Nicholls who provided a raging hot favourite in Tatenen for the €120,000 Durkan New Homes Novice Chase, just as he did at Kempton's King George VI Chase yesterday.
The legendary Kauto Star duly completed a King George hat-trick under Ruby Walsh, but back in Dublin Tatenen backers crashed to earth after losing an exciting battle with Follow The Plan.
It was a sore blow for punters but those looking for some festive feel-good factor got their wish as the Nicholls hotpot was turned over in a plan master-minded by the Rathcoole, Co Dublin-based trainer Oliver McKiernan.
It was a first Grade One victory for McKiernan, who trains mainly his own horses and who almost didn't even allow Follow The Plan take his chance. "The horse didn't work as well as he can earlier in the week so I was in two minds about running him at all. So I threw him out in a field for a couple of days and that seemed to freshen him up!" he grinned afterwards.
"It was a great battle and my fellah stuck at it really well," McKiernan added before admitting the pre-race Tatenen confidence had affected him. "I didn't expect him to be too strong for that horse - but I'm glad he was."
The Nicholls team could console themselves with having picked up two Grade Ones back on home turf and there was no denying Kauto Star's top-billing at Kempton. Sceptics had wondered if the 2007 Gold Cup winner was on the slide but he put those doubts to bed with a comprehensive victory. "He's a star, isn't he?" said Walsh afterwards. "He has always been a wonderful horse but when you are at the top people want to knock you."
Kauto Star lost his Gold Cup crown to Denman last season but was cut to 9 to 4 second favourite to reclaim the title against his stable companion in March.
There was an Irish success at Kempton too as the popular but enigmatic Harchibald emerged best in a desperate finish to win the Christmas Hurdle for the second time at odds of 7 to 1.
It was Ireland's champion trainer Willie Mullins who cast a long shadow across this country yesterday, winning two races each at both Limerick and Leoprdstown, where his bumper champion Cousin Vinny won a first race over hurdles in brilliant fashion. The trainer's 18-year-old son Patrick guided the favourite to an easy win that strengthened his grip as an ante-post favourite for Cheltenham.
"We're having a beano, so fingers crossed it can continue," said Mullins Senior, who nominated Hurricane Fly as a horse of his to follow today.
The legendary owner and gambler JP McManus was also in Grade 1 winning form yesterday with Lethal Weapon maintaining an unbeaten record over jumps in the Juvenile Hurdle. "He's a buzzy little horse who is mad for getting on with things, but jumping hurdles has made a man of him," said trainer Christy Roche afterwards.
Three Irish runners, Notre Pere, Beantown and Sea Diva, will line up in today's Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, although the track has to pass an 8am inspection.
But the main event at Leopardstown this afternoon will be the €190,000 Paddy Power Chase. A total of 28 runners are due to line up for the three-mile event.
There will also be interest in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle where Donnas Palm runs for some famous connections. The Grand Alliance Racing Club is made up of politicians, including An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.
Hopes are high for big crowds at Leopardstown over the weekend but yesterday's attendance was down from last year's 17,004. Betting figures were also on the slide. Bookmaker turnover of €1,364,450 was down almost €79,000 on 2007, while the Tote slipped from €533,072 to €441,768.
