CALUM McCLURKIN: Dublin Racing Festival will see a resurgent Mullins overcome any Christmas blip and set the tone for more dominance in the spring
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A Willie Mullins four-timer at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day was enough to quell the doubters about the yard’s form in an intriguing Christmas period when standards seemed to slip. Some were surprisingly beaten, some ran absolutely deplorably in not seeing out their races or never travelling - but given the enormous strength in depth of talent in the yard some still won anyway. That’s why it’s almost impossible to determine whether there really was something amiss at Closutton or that it was just an generally an unusually bad week at the office.
![[Sir Gino was flawless when putting Ballyburn to the sword in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/17/93738875-0-image-a-2_1736011909276.jpg)
The easy starting point is his two high-profile runners at Kempton in the defeats of Lossiemouth and Ballyburn to Nicky Henderson’s star duo of Constitution Hill and Sir Gino respectively. On face value, there was no shame in being beaten by two generational talents.
![[But Mullins did not have to worry about the form of Galopin Des Champs as he won in Ireland]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/17/93738879-0-image-a-3_1736011941916.jpg)
In the Christmas Hurdle, Lossiemouth was not on her A-Game, rushed off her feet in the early stages and never really travelling. Her backers, myself included, knew their fate early on. Greatwood Hurdle winner Burdett Road ran well and only faded after clattering the last. The unbeaten Constitution Hill maintained that record with a two-and-a-half length win from Lossiemouth who put in some good late work.
![[Ballyburn is widely expected to be stepped up in trip next time after losing out in Kempton]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/17/93738883-0-image-a-4_1736011982365.jpg)
Mullins, who was at Leopardstown, looked glum. He expected better and said ‘she was never travelling.’ Jockey Paul Townend reported that she was ‘flat’. There are reasons to expect better at a more stiffer track at Cheltenham after a run, probably in the International at the same course in February, to sharpen her up. Slow paces over two-and-a-half miles in her more recent runs seemed to be a culture shock back down to two miles at a sharp course at Kempton.
