Jasmin De Vaux

Jasmin De Vaux put up the best performance of his hurdling career to date when he finished fourth behind his stable companion Final Demand in the Nathaniel Lacy Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. His jumping was much better in his first-time cheekpieces than it had been in either of his two previous runs over hurdles. He just got a little out-paced when they quickened from the second last flight, before keeping on well over the last and up the run-in, just failing to catch Mozzies Sister for third place.

Willie Mullins' horse was a top-class bumper horse. He won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last March, beating Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Romeo Coolio into second place and providing Willie Mullins with his 100th Cheltenham Festival winner. His jumping lacked fluency on his hurdling bow at Navan in early December, but he still had the ability to beat The Enabler and Workahead, who have both enhanced the form of that race since. Sent off as favourite for the Lawlor's of Naas Hurdle next time on the back of that run, his jumping again lacked fluency and he couldn't get away with that at Grade 1 level. Stepped up in trip here and fitted with cheekpieces, his jumping was much better, and that allowed him step forward again. A point-to-point winner, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, and he could appreciate a step up to three miles now. The fact that he is a Cheltenham Festival winner will be a big asset to take to the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, if that is where he goes next.

Leopardstown, 1^st February 2025