Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 24 November 2025

I’m not sure what to make of the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

On the one hand it was thrilling to see Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File – the ‘right’ horses – engaged in such a tussle from the home turn to the line.

On the other hand, to what extent was it a competitive race? Yes, the trip was on the short side for some but even so, if the race had been run in Britain would the connections of Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin have been prepared to allow him to be beaten by the best part of 53 lengths?

As I mentioned recently, it seems accepted practice in Irish novice hurdles to let the two or three fancied horses steal a few lengths at the start and more often than not have the finish to themselves … “triers at the front, the rest of you at the back” … to quote the alleged instructions from the starters in days of yore.

Now I don’t believe this applies to Graded races, but the fact is that there were only two horses in contention from a long way out on Sunday with several top-class performers failing to get a look in. Obviously I accept that the trip was short of their requirements but you would not see a British-trained Gold Cup winner handled or raced in such a manner on his return to action.

Looking at the situation more closely, I’d like to know what proportion of Willie Mullins’ novice hurdlers are sent into the lead, or a prominent position, from flagfall. This, despite the possibility that after a couple more runs they may be found to be more suited to being held up.

I am reminded of the days when Martin Pipe dominated the scene, notably at the time that Peter Scudamore was his stable jockey. He used to kick the vast majority of his runners into a clear lead, even debutants, in the knowledge that they had a fitness edge and would keep on galloping to the line.

The Mullins-trained horses are probably the most talented in the race anyway, but I don’t recall Ruby Walsh riding them as assertively as Paul Townend from flagfall.

I am told by one ex-jockey who went to ride work at Closutton that he has never gone as fast in his life.

This is such a contrast to the, let’s say, quiet and considered way in which JP McManus’s horses are brought along, but then most of them are of modest ability and need to be campaigned and placed accordingly.

Regarding Sunday’s race, I’ve read a few observations from the clock watchers and number crunchers  who have expressed varying degrees of astonishment that Gaelic Warrior could deliver such fast fractions and then have the reserves, and tenacity, to dig deep again to repel the favourite after the last.

He’s not been an easy horse to ‘read’ over the years, and there is just a nagging concern in my mind that he might take a while to recover from what looked like a gut-wrenching race. I’d certainly not be rushing to take the top offer of 7/4 for the King George, especially given that’s with Ladbrokes. In the days when Mike Dillon was their man you would never want to back one they were happy to lay.

Talking of the old days, it’s the ‘Hennessy’ … sorry, Coral Gold Cup, no disrespect… this weekend with what promises to be an absorbing Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (if they all turn up!)

I’ll be back next week with more thoughts.

Bye for now

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