Mumbo Jumbo capped a tremendous four days of racing at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival when he justified day long support in the closing bumper from 11/2 to 11/4 favouritism.
James ‘Corky’ Carroll guided the son of Vinnie Roe into the lead in the straight and drove him out to win by a length-and-three-parts from Maller Tree (10/1) who tried to hunt him down but couldn’t get on terms.
The winner was providing owner Barry Connell with a treble after the exploits of Glam Gerry and Star Neuville
Mumbo Jumbo had won a bumper at Gowran Park in September before finishing sixth in a Listed Cheltenham bumper in November.
“I’m delighted with him. He ran a bit green at Cheltenham and maybe he didn’t handle the track,” trainer Mags Mullins said.
“He came out of it well though and he’s a smashing horse and a super jumper. He’ll be a lovely horse to go hurdling, that’s his game.
“I don’t know whether he might come back for another bumper. We might leave it for the year.”
The front two pulled well clear of the remaining six runners, with Wandering Aengus proving best of them in taking third, some 20 lengths behind the runner-up.
Michael Graham
