Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 3 February 2025

It’s hard to know where to begin in relation to the action in Ireland, so I’ll start elsewhere with the relatively low-grade 0-100 2m 4f handicap chase run at Lingfield last Friday.

Why, you are fully entitled to ask, is this of such interest given the high quality of racing over the water?

Well it’s all to do with what I call the shape of the horse’s form. The race at Lingfield was won by River Run Free, a six-year-old making his chase debut under Rules from a mark of just 75.

This figure was based on the evidence of his three runs in novice/maiden hurdles, beaten 65 lengths, 57 lengths and 74 lengths.

However his Irish point-to-point form told an entirely different story.

He ran three times between the flags last season, third to Desert Ian in which the now-rated 112 Dangerous Touch was second, at Ballindenisk in December, and then a faller a week later before his third outing when he was beaten six lengths into second by no less a horse than Final Demand.

Now obviously Final Demand was not the horse last March that he has become since joining Willie Mullins, but he had won a Limerick maiden by 15 lengths in December and had the potential at that time to become the rising star he looked when winning the Grade 1 2m 6f novice hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday. The runner-up was rated 139 there so the winner will be rated in the mid-150s.

River Run Free had the profile or shape to his form that I first witnessed with a few of the late David Johnson’s horses trained by Martin, David’s father.

Back then he liked to run horses that had shown form in Irish points at the likes of Taunton, often over inadequate trips, and then place them in handicaps over a distance more in keeping with the requirements of their pedigree.

In the case of River Run Free there was a strong case for believing he was very well treated on the basis of his form with Final Demand, with the first-time application of a tongue-tie an indication of intent.

This is a profile I always look out for and in this week’s edition of the Weekend Card I have introduced a similar type to the Dark Horses section.

The news came through this morning that Gerri Colombe is ruled out for the season. His trainer Gordon Elliott is usually very approachable for interviews and I did wonder why we saw so little of him over the weekend. This may be both cynical and unfair, but he would inevitably have been asked about the wellbeing of the horse and would not have wanted to appear evasive.

It is now looking very hard to make out a case against Galopin Des Champs, who is a top price of 8/13 but as short as 2/5 with a run.

It is not even certain who will be taking him on. Misadventure or misfortune could play their part in the next six weeks but his absence would make this a very sorry affair as things stand at the moment.

Talking of interviews I sensed a degree of frustration in Willie Mullins’ tone when he was approached by Nick Luck in the minutes after the Irish Champion Hurdle. In fact the sight of Rich Ricci walking into shot indicated that trainer and owner had not yet had a chance to speak.

Mullins had scarcely had time to draw breath when asked if the mare would still tackle the Champion Hurdle, to which he replied in the affirmative following a discernible pause.

In my view this was something akin to an intrusion on private grief, but Nick Luck would probably have been under editorial pressure himself and, as always, he delivered.

I remain convinced that Lossiemouth will be seen at her best off a strong pace and up the stiff finish at Cheltenham. I will be surprised if Paul Townend does not ride her, obviously allowing for anything untoward happening between now and then.

I’ll be back next week with more thoughts.

Bye for now

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