Le Divin Enfant can rise to Grade One challenge at Leopardstown

The best of the action in Limerick is the Goggin Buckley Hurdle and the nap goes to Storm Heart

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025 - 05:05

Tommy Lyons

This afternoon’s action at Leopardstown steps up considerably on Friday’s offering, and while the opening day was somewhat frustrating for Willie Mullins, he has great chances in both Grade One events.

In the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, his Le Divin Enfant can follow up his winning Irish debut at Thurles. From his two runs in France, his fourth-place behind Lulamba stands out, and he duly landed the odds on his first start for Mullins. While it wasn’t a strong enough race to be overly meaningful, he came home 23 lengths clear, and looked every yard a potential star.

This is a huge step up into what looks like a deeply competitive race, but he can make the grade. Skylight Hustle was impressive last time, also in a much lesser race, but it was a huge improvement on previous efforts and it will be interesting to see if he can hold his own in this company.

In a good renewal of the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, Majborough can get back to winning ways following his defeat in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.

Going right-handed and consistently jumping out to his left didn’t help as he came up shy of race-fit rival Found A Fifty, but he once again showed that he possesses a remarkable engine.

His jumping can be hit and miss but if he ever gets that right, he will be almost unbeatable over the minimum trip. Champion Chaser Marine Nationale is the most obvious danger, but he will be forgiven for needing this outing.

The best of the action in Limerick is the Goggin Buckley Hurdle and the nap goes to Storm Heart.

One of two runners in the race for Gigginstown House Stud, this five-year-old has earned a mark of 147 without having had the chance to show just how good he can be.

After a promising juvenile season, he was off for nine month prior to having his only outing of last season, and that was a huge effort to finish runner-up to McLaurey in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

That clearly marked him out as one with plenty more to give, once having a clear run at a season, and this looks like a good opportunity to get straight back to winning ways.

Riskaway, who also runs in the Gigginstown silks, was marginal favourite when the prices were initially revealed, and he comes here on back of a runaway success at Thurles. That form has since been boosted, and while the ground will be very different this time, he looks the most likely danger to the selection.

LEOPARDSTOWN (Saturday)

Selections

12:05 Dschingis Desire

12:37 Lovely Hurling

1:12 Majborough

1:47 Le Divin Enfant (NB)

2:22 Bowensonfire

3:00 Mossy Fen Park

3:30 Arcadian Emperor

Next best

12:05 Manoir De Mirande

12:37 Kargese