Kawaboomga
The other horse to take out of the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday is the winner's stable companion Kawaboomga. Settled in third or fourth place early on by Mark Walsh and along the inside, he moved up nicely just behind the leaders on the run to the second last flight. He had to switch off the inside on the run to the last, he had to come around the three horses in front of him, but he kept on well up the run-in to finish a close-up fourth, with the first four clear of their three rivals.
This was a fine return by Willie Mullins' horse, on his first run since he won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last January. He beat William Munny into second place that day, and William Munny went on and won a listed hurdle at Punchestown next time, before going to Cheltenham and finishing second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Back in third place that day was Koktail Divin, who was such an impressive winner of his beginners' chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, while in fourth was Zanoosh, who has now won her last three. On his previous run, Kawaboomga had run Kopek Des Bordes to less than three lengths in the fog in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown's 2024 Christmas Festival.
JP McManus' horse missed the Cheltenham Festival last year, but he is still only six and he has raced just four times over hurdles, so there is plenty of time for him still. He will be of interest now wherever he goes, even if he steps up in grade.
Gowran Park, 14th February 2026
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