Waterford Whispers
Waterford Whispers kept on well to finish third in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Never too far off the pace, he lost a little bit of ground at the third last fence, where he didn't make a mistake, but was just a little deliberate on the approach. He did make a mistake at the second last though, he got in tight and landed without momentum, and that was not ideal at a crucial stage of the race when the pace was increasing. He had to use up valuable energy in order to retain his position along the inside as they rounded the home turn. He was back travelling well as they turned for home however and, moved towards the near side by Mark Walsh on the run to the last, he shaped like he was going to be a player in the final stages of the race. They just got away from him a little on the run to the final fence, but he stuck to his task admirably up the run-in to finish third, just over a length behind the winner Backmeorsackme.
This was much more like it from Henry de Bromhead's horse. Second in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, he raced just twice last season, his first over fences. It has taken him a little while to find his metier this season, he shaped encouragingly in a novices' chase at Galway in October, but he was disappointing next time at Punchestown. This was a welcome return to form, and there is every chance that he will be able to build on this now and realise his true potential. The handicapper raised him by 4lb for this run, but that was fair, and it takes him up to a mark of just 134, which is still 1lb lower than his hurdles mark. Owned by JP McManus, we know how well the Henry de Bromhead horses do at Cheltenham, and the Westerner gelding put up a career-best performance over hurdles on his only run at the track. He could be another for one of the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chases at this year's Festival.
Leopardstown, 1st February 2026
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