13:45 Leopardstown (IRE) 28 Dec 2021
Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle
Grade 1 | Class 1 | 4YO plus
Winner €60,000 - 11 ran
led and clear, reduced advantage at 2nd, not fluent at 4th, increased lead before 8th, reduced lead 3 out, travelled well before last, driven out
tracked clear leader in clear 2nd,took closer order at 2nd, no impression on leader before last, ridden and kept on run-in, held
rear of mid-division, progress at 2nd, moderate 4th before 4th, took closer order in 3rd after 3 out, no impression on principals in moderate 3rd after 2 out, one paced, no extra run-in
mid-division, moderate 6th at 6th, progress in 5th after 3 out, no impression in moderate 4th before last, weakened run-in
towards rear, moderate 5th at 6th, took closer order in 4th after 3 out, no impression and weakened in moderate 4th 2f out
in rear, moderate 8th at 6th, progress after 3 out, under pressure and weakened after 2 out
ran 4th behind clear leader, 5th before 4th, dropped to moderate 7th at 6th, mistake 3 out, weakened and detached 2 out
raced 3rd behind clear leader, not fluent at 5th, mistake in moderate 3rd at 6th, lost place before 3 out, ridden in rear after 3 out, weakened and detached 2 out, pulled up before last
rear, hampered after 4th, bad mistake at 5th and pulled up
towards rear, mistake in 8th at 4th and unseated rider
rear, moderate 9th at 6th, under pressure after 7th, took closer order after 3 out, no impression and weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | €2.72 |
| CSF | €6.60 (5, 3) |
| Tricast | €70.71 (5, 3, 11) |
| Win | €2.75 (5) |
| Place | €1.10 (5), €1.60 (3), €3.10 (11) |
| Exacta | €9.30 (5, 3) |
| Trifecta | €91.40 (5, 3, 11) |
Expert Analysis
A pretty competitive field for this important race, and, while a few ran poorly and only two mattered at the business end, it is likely to prove strong form for first and second, their wide-margin advantage over the remainder backed up by a good overall time compared to the well-run handicap won by Panda Boy that preceded this. Klassical Dream got a flier at the start but reached the first flight only 3 lengths ahead of the leader in that handicap, and it is more a question of marking up some of his rivals a bit than marking him down. The close-to-par finishing speed of 100.8% underlines the reliability of what the first two achieved.
KLASSICAL DREAM (h169 here and previously) makes the course infrequently – this only his second start since 2019 – but is more often than not a high-class act when he does, the best staying hurdler around in what is quite a weak division currently. He set off quickly, grabbing a lead of a few lengths, set a sound pace despite not always being fluent, had his lead reduced 3 out but continued to run on strongly and was driven out. He is the one to beat in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, training issues allowing.
FLOORING PORTER (h167 here, 163 previously) has his quirks but did little wrong here and ran at least as well as he had previously, in second pretty much throughout and soon clear of the main group, closing the gap 3 out and sticking to his task as the winner took off again, tending to edge left on the run-in but staying on.
BURNING VICTORY (h138 here, 143 previously) had a lot on and was not discredited, unable to sustain a brief forward move 3 out but still seeing things out better than some of her rivals. She is proving difficult to place but would have a better chance of placing in the Mares’ Hurdle than the alternatives at the Cheltenham Festival.
GRAND ROI (h134 here, 152 previously) will probably prove best at shorter, held up and making only brief headway before fading.
ABACADABRAS (h130 here, 160 previously) seemed not to stay under a patient ride, making some headway 3 out but tiring soon after. He should not be written down much despite two emphatic defeats this term.
MR ADJUDICATOR (h117 here, ? previously) showed a glimmer of retaining ability on his first run in well over two years, travelling comfortably held up until going to 2 out, then unable to go on. He was formerly smart, winning at 16f to 20f (not sure to get this far).
RONALD PUMP (h0 here, 157 previously) regressed further from his Ascot run, making a couple of mistakes and never really a factor.
COMMANDER OF FLEET (h0 here, 155 previously) had the form to be third in this better grade given how things panned out, following his win in a useful handicap hurdle at Navan, but ran poorly, not helped by some shoddy jumping.
SALDIER (h0 here, 164 previously) was well in rear when blundering at the fifth (had been slightly hampered at previous flight), soon pulled up.
SAMS PROFILE (h? here, 152 previously) unseated at the fourth.
SIRE DU BERLAIS (h0 here, 160 previously) was never going, likely something wrong physically or mentally on the day.
