Willie Mullins began the Dublin Racing Festival in the best possible fashion when Final Demand displayed plenty of stamina in winning the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Won by stablemate Dancing City 12 months ago, who went on to finish third in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham before claiming two further Grade One successes, the 11-8 favourite drew away from Wingmen after the final flight to win by a yawning 12 lengths.
Having tracked the pace on the inside rail for much of the contest, Paul Townend moved him out on the bend and, as one by one any other realistic challengers dropped away, it soon only concerned two.
Wingmen did his best to fend off Final Demand, but having helped force the pace, he had nothing else to give.
Mozzies Sister stayed on for third, with Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux back in fourth.
The Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand (11-8F) is an emphatic winner of the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle under Paul Townend as the Dublin Racing Festival gets under way at Leopardstown. pic.twitter.com/3e0Dfj9OZL
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 1, 2025
Mullins said: "That was a huge performance, Paul was in the perfect position the whole way and when he pulled him out, it was a question of what was left in the tank – it turns out there was plenty.
"He was probably going better at the winning post than he had the whole way.
"There was a good few disappointments there but for him to be able to do that is huge. It's a nice start but we need a few more!
"Jumping the last today was the first time I realised he was a bit above average, but what he did from the last today sets him apart from a lot of other horses."
He went on: "It’s great to come here and win a Grade One on just his second run over hurdles. He’s a specimen. He was probably one of the dearest stores of his generation, so often they don’t work out but to win a Grade One here is fantastic.
"I wouldn’t mind going back in trip and I’m wondering if this race should be over two and a half miles rather than two-six, but we’ve been very lucky in it, I shouldn’t be looking to change it.
"I was concerned when I saw Paul niggling turning for home but he said he was just waking him up."
Gavin Cromwell's Hello Neighbour (85-40) ensured that Willie Mullins would be unable to repeat his clean sweep of Dublin Racing Festival Grade Ones when grimly holding on to win the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle.
Mullins did have the favourite in Sainte Lucie following sustained support but she ruined her chance by pulling hard behind the slow pace set by Danny Mullins on Sony Bill.
Hello Neighbour travelled sweetly and jumped with aplomb throughout for Keith Donoghue and when he took over at the head of affairs, they looked like going away to win well.
There was perhaps not as much response as anticipated, though, and Joseph O’Brien’s filly Galileo Dame closed to within three-quarters of a length, with the same distance back to Lady Vega Allen.
Unbeaten on the Flat and over timber, Hello Neighbour (85-40) scores in the Gannon's City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. pic.twitter.com/JcYYLz4thD
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 1, 2025
"I’m just thrilled to win a Grade One. I haven’t won a Grade One in Ireland for over four years, that’s just the nature of how competitive it is here," said Cromwell, who struck at elite level on home turf with Flooring Porter back in December 2020.
"He’s a proper one. I brought him along slowly and he’s answered every call, hopefully he’ll improve again."
When asked how the form would measure up with the English horses, he added: "You don’t know until they meet. They look very good, they are very smart, and we’ll know early in March."
Perceval Legallois could be considered for the Grand National after winning the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle for the second time in three years.
He ensured it was a day to remember for Gavin Cromwell, as after winning his first Grade One in Ireland for over four years with Hello Neighbour, the trainer's eight-year-old followed up his win over fences last time out.
Mark Walsh oozed confidence and brought the 15-2 chance through to beat Gaoth Chuil by a length and a half.
Gavin Cromwell records a quickfire double, with Perceval Legallois (15-2) taking the Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle under Mark Walsh. pic.twitter.com/nS9PA3i6F2
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 1, 2025
"You wouldn’t think he was after running over fences, he was very nimble over hurdles," said Cromwell.
"Obviously, he was off a lower mark. I thought coming here that he was a better chaser than a hurdler, but you can’t argue with that.
"He’s in the National and sure you’d have to consider it.
"It’s fantastic, it’s so hard to be competitive here, so to win two races is brilliant."
The Grand National could be the next port of call for the progressive Perceval Legallois after his win at Leopardstown. pic.twitter.com/A1UyLS3wfH
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 1, 2025
Derek O’Connor brought Noel Meade’s Colcannon from last to first to win the Paddy Power Play Card (C & G) INH Flat Race for Noel Meade.
The 9-2 chance was having his sixth run in a bumper but was wearing a hood for the first time. He had won a Punchestown bumper last February, only to be disqualified after his teenage jockey Finn Tegetmeier weighed in light, but belatedly got off the mark at Galway in October.
"We always thought he was fairly useful," said Meade.
"It was unfortunate what happened last year with Finn. He was point-three light, which is nothing, and he went and won by nine lengths.
"The whole intention after he won his bumper was to go jumping with him but the schooling just wasn’t going the way I wanted it to go.
"I felt he was going to take a run or two over hurdles to get to where we want him.
"I’d say we go with a different plan. We decided we’d run him in the bumper at Christmas but the day before we had spots in the yard and he came up with a couple of spots, so we had to take him out of that and then here was the next one.
"Unfortunately, he’s not qualified for Cheltenham but I think he’s OK for Punchestown, so we’ll probably plan for that. If there is something in between, at Fairyhouse, we’ll see."
Paul Nolan got on the scoresheet when An Peann Dearg (8-1) ran out an easy winner of the Ryanair Handicap Chase – but the trainer bemoaned the seven-length winning margin.
"It’s great for Jim and Sonja (Buckley, co-owners), they are very important people in the yard and it’s great to have them here and win a big pot," said Nolan.
"He travelled well, something similar to the last day, but he probably hit the line a little bit stronger.
"We could see it today, but the handicapper can see it as well!"
Watch the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday from 1pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
