Sam King takes a look at what we learnt over the last week in the racing world
Dublin Racing Festival or Willie Mullins Festival?
Once again, Willie Mullins completely dominated the Dublin Racing Festival, winning six out of the eight Grade 1 contests. Although that figure is two short of last season's clean sweep, it was clear to see that Willie Mullins' stranglehold on the Dublin Racing Festival was very much in full working order. Gavin Cromwell and Joseph O'Brien were the only other two trainers to succeed at the top level while leading handlers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead both failed to find the winners' enclosure all weekend.
Absolutely nothing, when it comes to State Man vs Lossiemouth.
Lossiemouth's shock exit at the fourth last flight meant we learnt absolutely nothing in the Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday. Much to many people's surprise, Townend had opted to ride now three-time Irish Champion Hurdle winner State Man, but that didn't stop Lossiemouth from being sent off the 8/11 market leader for the Grade 1 clash that was billed as a match-up between two great stablemates. State Man, who did well to evade the tumbling Lossiemouth after the fourth last, ultimately strode clear for a six-and-a-half length victory, but he looked weary crossing the line and it wasn't exactly impressive on the clock. Willie Mullins revealed after the contest that Lossiemouth would still be targeted at the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Super Danny Mullins can get the job done at Leopardstown.
Paul Townend may have walked away with five Grade 1's from Leopardstown this weekend, but Danny Mullins should be equally proud of what he achieved on Solness in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Following a 535/1 treble on the opening day last season, which featured victories on Dancing City, Kargese and Il Etait Temps, Danny Mullins was always going to be doing well to reach similar heights twelve months later. However, the Kilkenny-born 33-year-old proved he was once again the man for the job on the big occasion at Leopardstown when expertly steering the Joseph O'Brien-trained Solness to an all-the-way success in the Dublin Chase on Sunday, beating better-fancied market rivals Gaelic Warrior and Marine Nationale.
Appleby once again happy to unleash classy prospect on the all-weather
Charlie Appleby proved once more that he was happy to unleash a high-promising newcomer on the all-weather at Kempton when Opera Ballo had bookmakers asking for 2000 Guineas prices following his debut success on Wednesday. Just twelve months after Appleby released subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech in the very same contest, Opera Ballo launched himself onto the scene with an emphatic eight-and-a-half-length success under Billy Loughnane, who was fairly salivating at the mouth after the performance. Appleby has a 32% strike rate at Kempton over the last five years, which increases to 40% when narrowed down to three-year-olds. Opera Ballo was introduced at 20/1 for this season's 2000 Guineas by bookmakers Paddy Power.
