'We might have blown the Pertemps' - Shewearsitwell caps magic Mullins Christmas

Thursday: Leopardstown

A closing day treble saw Willie Mullins bring his Leopardstown Christmas haul to 13 winners, though he fears one success may have hindered his bid to record an elusive first Pertemps Final win at the Cheltenham Festival with Shewearsitwell.

Queens Brook, sent off 8-13, had looked poised to continue Gordon Elliott's fine festive run in the Grade 3 BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle but it was the Closutton Racing Club's in-form seven-year-old who picked up best to score by four and a half lengths.

The 15-8 winner had qualified for the Pertemps Final when scoring in a qualifier at Punchestown last month.

Mullins said: "That was great. She wasn't very brave over her hurdles so I was very happy the last hurdle was taken out twice [due to low-lying sun]. I thought going down the back she wasn't going to race much but once Paul got after her she just kicked into gear."

All smiles: members of the Closutton Racing Club celebrate Shewearsitwell's triumph at the Leopardstown Christmas festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Asked whether connections could be tempted by the Pertemps Final or stick to Graded company, Mullins said: "I think we might have blown the Pertemps by winning today as she'll get a penalty for that.

"We'll look at it, and of course she'll be in it, but we'll look at other targets too."

McConnell eyes Cheltenham handicaps

Don't say you weren't told. When asked to provide his best chance of a winner over the Christmas period for last Saturday's Racing Post, John McConnell didn't hesitate for a second in nominating Seddon, who bolted up in the opening 2m5f Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.

It was a similar story 35 minutes later when Good Land ran out an impressive winner of the 2m4f Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle, having been put up by trainer-owner Barry Connell in the same piece.

McConnell could now be looking towards either a handicap hurdle or handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival with the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate's 13-length winner.

Seddon: impressive under Ben Harvey in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Off his handicap mark, which is 11lb lower over fences than hurdles, he was entitled to run very well," said McConnell.

"He's going to get into a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham off his current mark and he's probably on the same chase rating too after the handicapper has his say.

"For some of these guys in the syndicate, having a Leopardstown winner is as good if not better than having a Cheltenham winner as they've been coming here all their life."

Connell's first Leopardstown winner

Connell had described Good Land as potentially "a bit special" leading up to his festive assignment, and the 9-2 shot did not disappoint under stable jockey Michael O'Sullivan.

A tilt at the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles on February 23 could be next, though he will also be given an entry for the Dublin Racing Festival.

Good Land: set to tackle Graded company for Barry ConnellCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Connell said: "It's my first winner at Leopardstown. We've hit the bar here before and I actually never rode a winner here either, so it's brilliant to get this.

"He was the banker of the week. I don't know how strong the race was but he couldn't have been any more impressive."

Crowds up

The final day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival drew 11,601 spectators – up on the last comparable figure for the card of 10,791 in 2019.

In total, attendances across the four days were up six per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with an overall crowd of 60,478 for the 2022 meeting (57,035 in 2019).

Results, replays and analysis

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