Willie Mullins’ Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough made the perfect start to life over fences at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
The four-year-old novice chaser defied a market drift before the off to make all the running in impressive style over two talented stablemates who can’t be considered slouches.
Tullyhill and Asian Master could only manage to finish within six and seven lengths respectively of the winner, who was purchased by JP McManus and sent to Closutton after success on debut in France last April.
Majborough finished a close third on his first start for Mullins at the Dublin Racing Festival in February before improving greatly to take the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a month later.
The winner gained 15.21 lengths jumping compared to runner-up Tullyhill (+2.37) and the best horse racing betting sites have made him a general 5/1 chance for the Arkle this spring.
WATCH: Triumph Hurdle hero Majborough makes all on chase debut at Fairyhouse
Ballyburn may be the talk of the town, but he looks a vulnerable favourite at two miles in the Arkle
Despite jumping out to his left at times – which wouldn’t be a problem around Cheltenham (left-handed track) – it’s easy to see Majborough (5/1)’s performance today as a stern warning to Ballyburn backers.
Ballyburn (5/2) wasn’t nearly as impressive over 2 miles and 3 furlongs at Punchestown last month, and everything about his display that day screamed that he wanted a longer trip where we know for a fact he’s more effective.
L’eau Du Sud (8/1) will surely be the best English chance in the Arkle after winning a trial at HQ before following up in Grade 1 company at Sandown – but he wouldn’t make nearly as much appeal as another McManus contender, Inthepocket (8/1), who won doing handstands in a two-mile beginners chase at Wexford in October.
Inthepocket proved to be one of the best novice hurdlers in the division in 2023 and there’s every chance fences will be the making of this horse, while it would be silly to write Firefox (12/1) off after disappointment in the Drinmore at two-and-a-half miles.
The modest gallop set by Sam Ewing on Croke Park that day was the last thing Firefox wanted and he is sure to give a much better account of himself when dropped back to two miles and ridden prominently, where he can really test the jumping of those in behind.
The 2025 Arkle is looking like a vintage renewal and we can only pray that all of these names make it to Cheltenham in one piece.
