Willie Mullins' powerful racing squad received another significant boost as Final Demand made a spectacular transition to fences with a dominant 13-length victory at Navan on Sunday. The emphatic performance immediately established the former top novice hurdler as a serious contender for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Flawless Fencing Debut
The highly anticipated chase debut saw Final Demand demonstrate exceptional jumping technique throughout the race, comfortably defeating Wingmen, who had also shown promise as a novice hurdler last season. Such was the authority of the performance that bookmakers immediately shortened Final Demand's odds to 6-4 for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase at the upcoming festival.
Mullins expressed delight at his charge's natural ability over fences. "He was just so natural, wasn't he?" the champion trainer remarked. "Jumping down the back, taking fences in his stride. I got a little worried coming to the third-last, but when Paul gave him a squeeze, he just started opening up again. His jumping was so natural, it was fantastic."
Mullins vs Skelton Title Race Heats Up
While Dan Skelton enjoyed success at Cheltenham's November meeting with Panic Attack's Gold Cup victory, Mullins' Navan triumph served as a stark reminder that his training operation is only just beginning to hit its stride. The performance significantly strengthens Mullins' hand ahead of the championship races at Cheltenham in March, where the Grade One contests will be decided.
The manner of victory particularly impressed racing enthusiasts, with Final Demand showing both professionalism and power in his first attempt over the larger obstacles. The 13-length winning margin against credible opposition marked this as one of the most impressive chasing debuts of the young season.
Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Quality
Meanwhile, back at Cheltenham, the final day of the November meeting provided family entertainment alongside top-quality racing. Joe Tizzard's Alexei produced an impressive performance to win the feature Greatwood Handicap Hurdle by six lengths, accelerating clear after the final flight.
The German-bred gelding, following up a recent Ascot victory, even received a 40-1 quote for next year's Champion Hurdle. "I thought this was the best I'd had him but this was a step up again," Tizzard commented. "I'm just enjoying what he's doing at the moment. I haven't got a plan, the plan was these two and that's where we're at."
The race has previously produced several subsequent Grade One winners, adding further significance to Alexei's commanding display on a day that blended casual racing enjoyment with genuine championship clues.
