Romeo Coolio’s ride on the 2026 version of the Irish Arkle roller coaster in Leopardstown was too much for the heroic Kargese.

Gordon Elliot went 4-9 against the favorite in the hands of Jack Kennedy, whose charge trailed Kargese slightly for the first three-quarters of the race, leaving the only other runner, Downmexicoway, behind.

Willie Mullins’ mare looked to be in the ascendancy on the home bend, forcing her rival to shed the reins and head towards the grandstand side rail. However, Romeo Coolio rallied and found enough pressure to regain the initiative as the pair overtook the last runner.

With the favorite looking to have made it with ease, Kagise was the next to be put to the test – only to be choked by her opponent who ran out of gas on the line.

The full report follows…

Narciso dominates in Division I honors

Narciso took the next step in his promising early career with victory in the Gannon Urban Recovery and Recycling Services Junior Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old, ridden by Mark Walsh for owner JP McManus, was favorite in the parity stakes and led the Group One two-mile race throughout.

As the race neared its closing stages he took a sizable lead and was in no danger of being caught, taking a four-and-a-half-length victory from stablemate Selma De Vary.

“It was a really good performance and he did it from the front,” Mullins said.

“He’s got a nice position up front, jumps well up front and has enough kicking ability at the end.

“He’s also very mature and looking at him I think he’s going to be a great chaser. He’s a good big specimen of a horse.

“I liked him from the first day he came in. He was young the first day he ran, but he’s learning all the time.

“His ears were up all the way to the back. He seemed to be in good shape and in control of himself.”

Bookmakers have Narciso Has set as 7-4 favorite for March’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Selma De Vary’s odds have been halved to around 7-1 for the same race. Speaking of the runner-up, Mullins said: “She missed a lot of time and I think she’s going to improve a lot in this competition.

“She was a little green towards the end. Paul took her aside because he didn’t want to be associated with anyone else.

“I think she’s a mare with a great future. She looked sexy so we rode her out from behind. I’m not sure if flat racing will enhance her abilities. We’ll see, we’ll get through the season first.

“She also looks like she’ll be part of the Triumph team and then maybe back to Punchestown. We could also go to Fairy House and compete, we’ll see.”

Dr. Steinberg is great.

Dr Steinberg maintained his perfect record over hurdles with an overall victory in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

Following wins at Galway and Navan, he added the Grade 2 winner Thedeviluno, with the Willie Mullins-trained Doctor Dino gelding once again showing his love for handicapping when he galloped home eight lengths clear in the hands of Paul Townend.

Yeshil took the lead, but the 7-4 favorite knocked second out and the game quickly ended with Kazansky holding on to second.

“That game was impressive, very tough,” Mullins said. “Every time we go on a trip, he seems to enjoy it. He’s a cyborg mare, and that’s endurance.

“I think we bought two guys that year from Walter (Connors), Kopek Des Bordes and this guy, so it’s a 100 percent Division I record, which is awesome.

“The first time was probably down to the wire before he relaxed. Everywhere he went, he had a horse behind him and he was very free, but he was galloping. The thing is, it can pull like that but still gallop at the end of the two-mile six on very rough ground.

“We think of him first as a summer horse so he can race on a variety of surfaces, but when he gets into tougher conditions he seems to perform better.”

Dr Steinberg led 2-1 in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Three Miles at the Cheltenham Festival and Mullins added: “He did everything right.”