Msassa set to continue juvenile hurdlers’ good run

Leopardstown’s Christmas festival had everything, both from Willie Mullins’ point of view, and from the racecourse point of view, writes Ruby Walsh.

On St Stephen’s Day, you had the wow factor of Footpad, whose performance was spectacular.

The following day, you had enough drama to write a novel, let alone have it at a race meeting. The stewards did what they had to do in demoting Min and promoting Simply Ned – it looked the obvious decision. I’m not sure Min put his best foot forward, but there was great drama and it made for a great atmosphere around Leopardstown.