Dublin Racing Festival: Majborough bids to build on Fairyhouse win over fences in Irish Arkle

Majborough puts his towering reputation to the test in an all-star clash with stablemate Ile Atlantique in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.

It was on this day 12 months ago when the strapping gelding first gave a hint at his high-class potential in finishing third in the Grade One juvenile hurdle on the Dublin Racing Festival card.

However, better was still to come and he marched on to Triumph Hurdle glory at the Cheltenham Festival, reversing form with Kargese for a victory that had connections excited for the future.

He made a foot-perfect start to life over the larger obstacles at Fairyhouse before Christmas and will be a warm order to give Willie Mullins a fifth Irish Arkle success on the spin.

"He looked Arkle material there (at Fairyhouse), he handled Leopardstown well, so we'd be very keen going back," said Mullins.

"My heart went in my mouth (during his chasing debut) and when you’ve a horse of that calibre, I find other people enjoy them more than I do. I enjoy other people’s horses because there’s no pressure.

"We’ll let him go in the Arkle, then we’ll decide whether to go back to Fairyhouse or to Aintree for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One.

"I’d imagine soft ground would be better, he has a lovely action. He’s another one that I probably need to keep a bit fresher at home."

Majborough is unlikely to have things all his own way in his first top-level assignment over the larger obstacles and supporters will be wary of the fact the Closutton first string has been beaten by a stablemate the past two years.

This time around, it will be Ile Atlantique who will be attempting to keep the favourite honest, having produced two fine performances over fences so far, including when comfortably