Hi Reader

It's nearing the end of January!

I finally got round to finishing off a few eye catchers before the Dublin Racing Festival. We have five eye catchers with four of them trained by Willie Mullins whose horses are hitting top form.

Check out eye catchers for this week below:

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Spanish Harlem

Spanish Harlem - Fell in 3.30 Gowran 22/01/2026

A heart breaking unseat at the final fence in the Thyestes Chase for young seven pound claiming jockey Sean Cleary-Farrell. Spanish Harlem looked a winner as we know Willie Mullins horses do not stop from the last to the line! Spanish Harlem has taken his form to a whole new level this season over fences. Last year he finished fourth in the Bet365 Gold Cup having been carried out in the Scottish Grand National.

A win at Punchestown in June was backed up with a comfortable win in the Kerry National at Listowel. The runner up at Listowel, Three Card Brag, had franked the form with a win and second since Listowel. Spanish Harlem flopped in the Coral Trophy Gold Cup however his run at Gowran proves he is a strong stayer and ready for a shot at the Aintree Grand National. His prominent style of racing and good jumping look ideal for Aintree which is flat and left-handed like Listowel.

The Jukebox Kid

The Jukebox Kid - 1st in 1.00 Ascot 17/01/2026

Ben Pauling’s good season continued with The Jukebox Kid at Ascot. A winning Irish point to point horse for handler Cormac Doyle. He was bought for 130k with connections allowing this big chaser time to mature and fill out. Ben ran him twice over hurdles to win and finish third last season. A win on his first run over fences at Carlisle in November was impressive. Grande Geste finished second at Carlisle and won the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock giving that form a big boost.

The Jukebox Kid finished a good fourth at Cheltenham in December when carrying top weight. He improved for the softer ground to win well at Ascot. It looked like his jumping had improved too. Ben mentioned a trip to the Punchestown Festival at the end of the season. Surely, if the ground is soft enough it will be a go at the National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next for The Jukebox Kid off his new rating of 137.

Mighty Park

Mighty Park - 1st in 1.33 Fairyhouse 15/01/2026

A very taking win by Mighty Park who was backed as if defeat was out of the question. Mighty Park was purchased privately by JP McManus following his close second to one of his own horses in a Quakerstown point to point. Mighty Park had it all his own way up front but absolutely destroyed this field over two miles on soft ground.

Mighty Park will stay further for sure and it will be tempting for Willie Mullins to run him once again for more experience before the Cheltenham Festival. The Dublin Racing Festival comes too soon and would be a massive step up in grade for a once run maiden hurdle winner. Whatever happens next this horse looks like a star in the making and worth following for the rest of his career.

Western Diego

Western Diego- 1st in 2.15 Fairyhouse 14/01/2026

Wille Mullins and Brian Hayes seem to have found the key to Western Diego. This horse was very head strong in bumpers but showed lots of class to win at Naas and then finish seventh in the champion bumper at Cheltenham. He won once over hurdles and finished third in a Grade two hurdle at a Fairyhouse Easter Festival. It didn’t happen for him over fences as a novice last season.

Brian Hayes held him up to come home late on his first run this season when a big eye catcher in a listed handicap chase at Fairyhouse in November. He returned to Fairyhouse for the Dan Moore handicap chase and won well ridden the same way by Brian Hayes. All the rain in January is good news for Western Diego who has a major winning chance at the Dublin Racing Festival on winter ground over a stiff two miles and one furlong. Western Diego remained on a good handicap mark of 138.

Future Prospect

Future Prospect - 1st in 12:43 Naas 09/01/26

This John Magnier and Brosnan Racing daughter of Order of St. George looks good. She won her maiden hurdle really well at Naas on yielding ground. The racing post gave her a rating of 132 which is high for a mare on her first hurdles run. Future Prospect won her point to point with Denis Murphy before changing hands.

She was keen going in bumpers however is settling much better over hurdles. Assistant trainer David Casey mentioned the Solerina Hurdle at Fairyhouse as a potential next target. That is a Grade 3 mares only hurdle and has been won over the last four years by Aurora Vega, Jade De Grugy, Ashroe Diamond and Allegorie De Vassey, all trained by Wille Mullins.

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Happy Punting,

Hugh

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