Kalkir makes impression on Walsh Ruby Walsh hailed Kalkir as the leading juvenile hurdler of the season in Ireland so far after the French import won in emphatic fashion at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The Willie Mullins-trained grey beat six previous winners to open his account by eight lengths in a 15-runner field for the Grade Three Bar One Racing Juvenile 3-Y-O Hurdle. "He did it well. I'm not sure what the juvenile form is like in the UK, but in Ireland nothing has stood out. The form has been turned over and turned over," Walsh told Racing UK. "How good the form is, only time will tell. "All he could do was go and win and that is what he did. He jumped super, travelled really well and I loved the way he galloped to the line. "He's a staying sort. You need to stay in the Triumph to win it. It's a stepping stone and hopefully he'll improve through the season." Kalkir was made 6-1 favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, a price Walsh does not think is too bad. "He's an ante-post price at 6-1. He's not 11-4. It's an each-way price," he said. "He looks to be the best of the Irish thus far." Walsh was similarly impressed with Kalkir's compatriot Max Dynamite, who looked an exciting recruit when easily winning an 18-runner maiden hurdle at Thurles on Thursday. "It rode a very decent maiden hurdle. They went a reasonably good gallop," said Walsh. "He travelled super and when I asked him to quicken up between the last two hurdles, he changed gears and impressed me going to the last. "He jumped the last really well and kept on all the way to the line. I was impressed with him."
