Leopardstown fare a stark reminder of lack of depth in jumps game

The perils of an ongoing lack of depth and variety in Irish jump racing’s upper echelons were illustrated in pretty stark fashion at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Two Grade 1s worth a combined €200,000 attracted a paltry aggregate of eight runners, providing yet another blunt reminder of what can happen when such a large concentration of firepower resides in the hands of so few.

When an element of a superpower’s circumstances suffers a setback, things can fall apart alarmingly quickly. Just three stables were represented in Sunday’s features, with the expected participation of Min and Faugheen having doubtless scared off other potential contenders at an early remove.