'The starter got this one wrong' - Klassical Dream steals Christmas Hurdle prize

Tuesday: Leopardstown

A contentious start had a big bearing on the finish to a fascinating Christmas Hurdle.

Paul Townend nicked six to eight lengths on Klassical Dream and won by two. Gavin Cromwell, trainer of the runner-up Flooring Porter, felt those lengths were stolen rather than gifted.

"There's no point in crying about it but I'd love if we got the start Klassical Dream did," Cromwell argued afterwards. "Joe [Banahan, starter] has a job to do and it's not easy. He has to make a split-second call and, unfortunately, he got this one wrong. But, look, we're all human and we all make mistakes."

This was a different Klassical Dream to the one we saw winning so spectacularly at Punchestown in April. He was ridden cold that day by Patrick Mullins but here he burst from the traps, something he has been prone to do in the past.

Townend admitted afterwards that he had no intention of making the running beforehand and said Willie Mullins didn't either. The final decision was down to Klassical Dream himself it turns out.

"I'd say there was a man up in the stands who thought I would be taking my time today as well! Nobody told the horse!" laughed Townend.

"As the tapes dropped, he was gone on me. I just had to play the hand we were dealt after that. It all worked out in the end. He's learnt a lot about jumping and how to gallop and he pulled out enough in the end."

In fairness to Klassical Dream it was a pretty polished performance, even if it didn't go according to the pre-race script. He took his breathers and his jumping was slick and accurate most of the way.

1.45 Leopardstown: full result and race replay

BoyleSports reacted by cutting him into 5-2 favourite from 4-1 for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while the sponsors Paddy Power did likewise. It looks like he will head straight there now.

Mullins said: "He is hard to train. He has a huge amount of ability but doesn't always give you confidence when he works. I was only hoping that things would come right today when he came here and it did.

"The way he does it is better than horses who work the house down at home and go to the racecourse and don't do it. He's the opposite but we're getting to know him a lot more now and we trust him."

He added: "I think with that race under his belt we'd have a lot more confidence in him. While he was doing everything alright at home he didn't show us the sparkle that he shows on the racetrack.

"He has that under his belt and we're very happy now that we probably don't have to go to the well again before Cheltenham."

Paul Townend celebrates after winning the Grade 1 Christmas HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Given the controversial start which left Flooring Porter playing catch-up, Cromwell was thrilled with the way last season's Stayers' Hurdle winner performed.

He said: "He's run a huge race and I'm delighted with him. Obviously the start wasn't ideal and I'd say not having the rail up the straight didn't help him either. In the circumstances he's done really well."

Flooring Porter is now a 13-2 shot with Paddy Power to retain his Stayers' Hurdle crown.

The stewards did inquire into the start of the race and their report stated that nothing untoward had taken place. The report read: "Danny Mullins, rider of Flooring Porter, accepted the evidence as submitted by Banahan and Townend and stated that the video recordings were self explanatory.

"Having considered all the evidence, viewed the video recordings and the still pictures of the start, the stewards were satisfied that the starting procedures were adhered to."

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Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.