The Jumpers are Coming 2020/2021

JOSEPH O'BRIEN Jumps Stable Tours


'He's working great again - we have high hopes for him this season'

Joseph O'Brien may be transitioning to the Flat – he is coming off his best year so far in that code – but he still has a team for the winter that most trainers would be envious of.

Arkle runner-up Fakir D'Oudairies spearheads O'Brien's team of jumpers and will be joined in top chases by fellow Grade 1-winning novice chaser Le Richebourg, who has been absent since blowing his Irish Arkle rivals away in February 2019 but is set to make his long-awaited return next month.

Cheltenham Festival winners Band Of Outlaws and Early Doors may be sidelined for the season but there are any number of potential stars of the future waiting in the wings at Owning Hill.

Eric Bloodaxe is a horse O'Brien has always spoken highly of and is one such youngster the trainer is looking forward to sending over hurdles, while Forged In Fire and Fire Attack are other smart bumper horses ready to embark on novice hurdle campaigns.
Stable profile

Yard Owning Hill
Where Piltown, County Kilkenny
Started training 2016
Horses in yard 60 (National Hunt)
Members of staff 40
Head lad Faisal Hayat
Assistant trainers Mark Power and Brendan Powell
Secretaries Mark Hackett, Emma Dunning and Tara Armstrong
Travelling Head Girls/Lads Jim O'Brien, Tina Evans and Paddy Doody
Jockeys Mark Walsh, JJ Slevin, Ryan Treacy, Jody McGarvey and Eamonn Corbett
Amateurs Tom Hamilton and Neil Bashford
Conditionals Oakley Brown and Daire Davis
Stable sponsor Betfair
Website/email joseph@carriganogracing.com
Twitter @josephobrien2

Winners in Ireland

2019-20 68
2018-19 88
2017-18 67
2016-17 38

Profit/loss to €1 stake

2019-20 -151.36
2018-19 -128.5
2017-18 -48.46
2016-17 -109.02

Anything Will Do
Five-year-old gelding
Westerner (sire) - Aylesbury Park (dam)
Owner: Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
Form figures: 330-123
Racing Post Rating: 142 (chase); Official rating: None
He's taken to chasing well. He won his beginners' chase very well down in Killarney but maybe we shouldn't have run him when the ground was a bit quick at Listowel. He ran better when third at Fairyhouse but I was actually a bit disappointed with him. A step up in trip could suit him well. We'll look for a handicap and I think there could be a decent pot in him.

Dark horse
Assemble
6g Getaway - Annaghbrack
Gigginstown House Stud
44/1163-
RPR 144h OR 141h
He goes novice chasing. He wasn't a bad novice hurdler but I'd be hoping that he'll be better over a fence. Hopefully he can make up into a graded performer.

A Wave Of The Sea
4g Born To Sea - Je T'Adore
JP McManus
17-0413
RPR 130c OR -
A good juvenile hurdler for us last year, he won his beginners' chase well at Kilbeggan and has since run well in a novice chase at Punchestown. He jumped a bit to his left at the last that day but galloped home well. I'd say we'll step him up in trip now.

Busselton
3g Mastercraftsman - Blessed Luck
Chanelle Pharma Ltd
1-
RPR 119h OR -
He won in France and he looks a nice horse to go three-year-old hurdling with.

Castra Vetera
5m Jeremy - Mystic Cherry
Gigginstown House Stud
181-
RPR 114b
We really like her. She showed good form in bumpers last season and we're hoping that she can make a Graded novice hurdler. She should be ready to start soon enough and long-term you'd be hoping that she would develop into a mare who would have a chance in the mares' novice at Cheltenham.

Cerberus
4g Iffraaj - Miss You Too
JP McManus
11236-4
RPR 140h OR 138h
He's been a small bit disappointing. He has the option of stepping into handicap hurdles and we might go up in trip with him.

Choungaya
7g Walk In The Park - Autorite
Gigginstown House Stud
7/244U6-
RPR 140c OR 137c
He's still a novice over fences but he should be well up to winning his beginners' chase and then hopefully go on to all of those staying handicaps. He ended up being a little bit disappointing last season but hopefully with another year under his belt he'll be okay.

Collins
4g Martaline - Fantastic Cuix
Martin O'Sullivan
He's a nice horse who goes well and will be ready to start soon.

Darasso
7g Konig Turf - Nassora
JP McManus
511/420-
RPR 161c OR 155c
He could start off in the Clonmel Oil Chase. He's a very versatile horse who will be campaigned in all of those Graded races and he loves heavy ground. There should be lots of fun to be had with him.

Deilginis
6m Flemensfirth - Square Sphere
Martin O'Sullivan
4/10511-
RPR 122c OR 122c
She's a nice staying chaser who won her last two over fences last season. She's not a bad mare at all and I think she's one to follow as there are plenty more races to be won with her.

Dlauro
7g Lauro - Gergovie De Bussy
JP McManus
1/10-
RPR 126b
He goes novice chasing and starts off next month. He's been a very difficult horse to train, very frustrating, but he's training well at the moment. He burst blood vessels when last seen at Punchestown but, touch wood, everything seems to be good with him now.

Druid's Altar
3g Mastercraftsman - Shell Garland
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
35621 (Flat)
RPR 79 (Flat)
He won his maiden over a mile and a half at Listowel and looks a nice type to go juvenile hurdling with.

Embittered
6g Fame And Glory - Kilbarry Classic
Gigginstown House Stud
415363-
RPR 152h OR 148h
He's an exciting horse to go novice chasing with. He did well as a novice hurdler and had a good end to his campaign. He'll run in a beginners' chase in the next few weeks. His schooling has gone well and we hope he is a Graded horse at least over fences.

Entoucas
6g Network - Mousse Des Bois
JP McManus
32213-2
RPR 134c OR -
He ran a lovely race first time up over fences at Tipperary and the plan will be to try to win a beginners' chase and go from there.

Eric Bloodaxe
5g Saint Des Saints - Diorissima
Gigginstown House Stud
117-
RPR 131b OR -
A very good bumper horse, he missed a little bit of time last season but he's back looking and working great again. He'll start off in a maiden hurdle next month and we'll take things from there. His bumper form is working out well and he had a genuine excuse for when he was beaten in Leopardstown as he pulled muscles that day. We have high hopes for him this season.

Fakir
5g Day Flight - Lazary
Gigginstown House Stud
5761U1-
RPR 144h OR 131h
He'll go novice chasing. He could make up into a decent handicapper and might even be a Graded horse. He'll go down the staying route.

Star quality
Fakir D'Oudairies
5g Kapgarde - Niagaria Du Bois
JP McManus
2/21122-
RPR 165c OR 159c
He'll probably go to Naas for the Grade 2 Poplar Square Chase next month and then we'll look at stepping him up in trip as the season progresses. I think he'd have won the Arkle had he not galloped through the second-last and he did well to get back as close as he did to Put The Kettle On at the line. He could be a Ryanair horse but he's still only a five-year-old so he's very young. Hopefully there will be a lot more to come.

Fils D'Oudairies
5g Saint Des Saint - Pythie D'Oudairies
C.M Grech
481-
RPR 121h
He's a nice horse who came to us from France after winning over hurdles at Auteuil. He'll go novice chasing.

Flying Scotsman
3g Galileo - Iveagh Gardens
JP McManus, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
099-011 (Flat)
RPR 86 OR 87 (Flat)
He won twice in as many days on the Flat at Galway. We've gelded him and are looking forward to sending him over hurdles, when I hope there will be some fun to be had with him.

Fire Attack
5g Westerner - Seesea
Gigginstown House Stud
12-
RPR 126b
A good bumper horse who likes soft ground, he'll go for a maiden hurdle in the coming weeks and we'll go from there. We have Graded aspirations for him.

Forged In Fire
5g Presenting - Green Star
Gigginstown House Stud
1-
RPR 129b
He was a nice bumper horse and he's probably going to be more of a staying novice. He's almost ready to start and we think he's very nice, one of our better novice hurdlers.

Front View
5g Konig Turf - Tumavue
JP McManus
B/12120-
RPR 139h OR 135h
He was progressing nicely last season until the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, when he didn't like the very slow pace and didn't jump great. The plan at the moment is to go chasing, although I wouldn't rule out coming back for a handicap hurdle.

Global Equity
5g Shirocco - Geek Chic
Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
3133P-
RPR 130h
She has black type over hurdles but is still a novice, which is good. We'll go down the staying route.

High Sparrow
7g Shantou - Belladventure
Best Of The Rest Syndicate
556-120
RPR 133c OR 130c
He's done well since switching back to fences this summer and he might sneak a staying handicap chase off a light weight. He's entered in the Cork National this Sunday and the Troytown the following Sunday.

Home By The Lee
5g Fame And Glory - Going For Home
Sean O'Driscoll
1218U-1
RPR 148c OR -
He looked beaten first time out at Limerick this season but stayed on well to the line to win. That was his first start over fences so you'd have to be delighted. He'll have a staying novice chase campaign now. He's done very little wrong and is still a very young horse.

Keskonrisk
5g No Risk At All - La Courtille
C.M.Grech
1-
RPR 119
He made quite a lot of money after winning a Fairyhouse bumper for Timmy Hyde and the plan is to go novice hurdling. He shows a fair bit of speed.

King's Vow
4g Frankel - Seven Magicians
Blackrock Racing Syndicate/Rugby And Racing Syndicate
070645 (Flat)
RPR 99 OR 91 (Flat)
He has a high mark on the Flat and now goes novice hurdling. He jumps well.

Le Richeburgh
7g Network - Fee Magic
JP McManus
511211/
RPR 165c OR 160c
He missed last season through injury but is in great shape now. It won't be long until he's back out again and the Fortria Chase at Navan is a possible starting point. It's probably not going to be easy for him this season but hopefully we can get a clear run with him.

Midnight Run
6g Well Chosen - Knockamullen Girl
Gigginstown House Stud
121/196-
RPR 146h OR 142h
He goes novice chasing and has taken to fences well at home. He could be a decent novice chaser.

Mortal
8g King's Theatre - Pomme Tiepy
Gigginstown House Stud
43-U18F
RPR 155c OR 153c
He'll be aimed at all of those good staying handicap chases, but he probably doesn't jump as well out of deep winter ground.

New Ross
4g Doyen - Hayley Cometh
P McGee
4-
RPR 104h OR -
He could go for a bumper or a maiden hurdle. There should be plenty of races to be won with him.

San Salvador
El Salvador - Angel Chorus
Sarah O'Brien
6-
RPR 96b
He ran well at Naas in a very slowly run race and we gave him a break after that. He's working well and will go for a bumper soon.

Scarlet And Dove
6m Jeremy - Dark Mimosa
Gigginstown House Stud
1/514-
RPR 124h
The plan will be to try to get black type over hurdles and she'll probably jump a fence too.

Sempo
6g Oscar - Miss Cozzene
Martin O'Sullivan
16/3216-
RPR 145h OR 142h
A nice horse who was a good staying novice hurdler last season, he'll probably go chasing. He's had a little hold-up and won't be back as early as some of the others but he's nice.

Slige Dala
5g Sholokhov - Lady's Gesture
Rectory Road Holdings Limited
23-1114
RPR 122h
We probably backed up too soon after Listowel when he got beaten at Limerick. We'll freshen him up and aim him at Leopardstown over Christmas. He doesn't want heavy ground.

Speak Easy
7g Beneficial - For Bill
JP McManus
32/3F3-4
RPR 148c OR 142c
He's a second-season novice over fences and should come on from his return at Galway last weekend. Hopefully there will be a nice pot in him somewhere.

The Moyglass Flyer
6g Galileo - Luas Line
JP McManus
1/31-
RPR 133h OR 129h
He's done very little wrong and won for the second time in three runs over hurdles at Leopardstown last Christmas. He'll be aimed at all of those good handicap hurdles.

Uhtred
5g Fame And Glory - Ingred Hans
Gigginstown House Stud
1/21-
RPR 131h
He was a good bumper horse and has already had a run over hurdles, when he was second to another one of ours [Front View]. The plan is to go novice hurdling and we'll take it step by step.

Two for the tracker

Forged In Fire is a nice horse and looks as though he could be one of the better horses we have in the novice hurdling division. Deilginis is a nice staying mare and I think there will be lots of races won with her this season.


Expert view

Joseph O'Brien won the Galway Plate with a horse who had never won over fences before and he might be able to do likewise with Speak Easy in the Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday week.

Early Doors defied a mark of 139 to break his duck over fences at Galway and Speak Easy has a similar sort of profile. He won his maiden hurdle at Navan and a mark of 141 does not look insurmountable, especially since he shaped with such promise in a beginners chase at Galway on Sunday.

O'Brien is a dab hand at picking the right handicaps for his horses who are just below Grade 1 level, and expect him to do likewise with Entoucas.

He didn't hit the heights expected of him over hurdles, but jumped beautifully on his chasing debut at Tipperary and could win a big handicap chase next spring. The Grand Annual or Brown Advisory Plate could be on his radar.

The real quality on Owning Hill lies in the youth division. O'Brien has a whole host of novice hurdlers who have the potential to make it to the very top of the game.

Some say Ferny Hollow was not at his best when Forged In Fire beat him at Leopardstown over Christmas, but the pair stepped on the gas on the home turn and pulled 17 lengths clear of everything else. He could end up being a Ballymore contender.

Eric Bloodaxe also beat Ferny Hollow in a bumper and looks to have more pace than Forged In Fire. He could end up in the Supreme, as could Uhtred who showed a good turn of foot at Navan in December.

Castra Vetera is an imposing mare, who is only going to get stronger and better with time. She is seriously smart so put her in your tracker in case you miss her turning up in a maiden hurdle somewhere soon. You will not regret it.

Paul Nicholls Stable Tour 2020/21


WATCH OUT......Mussleburgh...all handicap races, over the last five years, seventeen runners under 10/1 only..ten won...twelve placed...+26.57

The champion trainer is warming up nicely with a promise of much more to come. With 11 winners in October you can’t say it’s been a slow start for Paul Nicholls, but neither has he raced out of the blocks like he did in 2016 and 2017.
“I’ve never known a start to a season quite like this one,” says the 11-time title holder. “The horses have held on to their condition and never taken so long to get fit. Some of them have had racecourse gallops to bring them on, but there’s only so much you can do at home and in the end you have to give them a run – and some of them have needed it.”
Nicholls offers another reason for the quieter start: “Some of my younger rivals bring theirs to peak fitness from the word go nowadays, whereas I prefer to play the longer game. We have to remember, it’s a long season and I’m in less of a hurry than I used to be at this time of year.”
Ten winners in the last fortnight, including two at Wincanton’s popular Badger Beers meeting on Saturday where he always excels, have signalled a marked change of tempo and the likes of Politologue, Getaway Trump and exciting French import Mick Pastor will spearhead a strong team at Cheltenham this weekend.
Nicholls looked out on his second yard at Highbridge Stables the other evening, complete with 11 new boxes put up in September, and said: “This is some ammo we’ve got here. I can’t wait for the future!”
Stable profile

Yard Manor Farm Stables
Where Ditcheat, Somerset
Second yard Highbridge Farm, Alhampton, Somerset
Started training October 19, 1991
Horses in yard 140
Members of staff 50
Head lad Clifford Baker
Assistant trainer Harry Derham
Assistant head lad David Rochester
Pupil assistant trainers Natalie Parker, Charlie Davies
Assistant head lass Kate McCormack, Rose Loxton
Travelling head girl Kate Nutt
Assistant travelling head girl Trudie Smith
Jockeys Harry Cobden, Sam Twiston-Davies, Bryony Frost, Sean Bowen, Brendan Powell, Harry Skelton, Katie O’Farrell
Conditionals Lorcan Williams, Bryan Carver
Amateurs Will Biddick, Natalie Parker, Matt Hampton, Harriet Tucker, Angus Cheleda
PA Hannah Roche, Sarah West
Finance Lina Chadburn
Stable sponsor Morson Group
Website paulnichollsracing.com
Twitter @pfnicholls
Winners in Britain
2018-19 135
2017-18 127
2016-17 171
2015-16 122
Profit/loss to £1 stake
2018-19 -£52.21
2017-18 -£132.84
2016-17 -£78.39
2015-16 -£73.23
Prize-money 2018-19
£3,307,172



My five dark horses to watch


Monmiral

He made a deeply impressive winning debut in a three-year-old hurdle at Auteuil in March. Monmiral joined us in July and is a lovely big horse with plenty of scope and will be running in juvenile hurdles this season. He is the type rather like Solo and Clan Des Obeaux that is going to make a serious chaser one day.

Hell Red

He finished second to Monmiral at Auteuil, beaten two and a half lengths, and is a totally different type, sharper and racier, is ready to go and makes his debut for us at Chepstow's first meeting at the end of next week. I could see him making an immediate impact.

Stormy Ireland

Is one of a dozen or more nice horses sent to me this summer by Jarred Sullivan. She did very well last season for Willie Mullins, winning three times in the mud before finishing fifth in the Mares' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Stormy Ireland has a rating of 153 and could be one to follow over fences this winter. While she is not the biggest she jumps well at home and is due to make her debut for us in a novice Chase at Newton Abbot on October 11 when she will get a handy 7lbs allowance from the geldings.

Pozo Emery

He is a promising recruit for Andy Stewart and his family and showed plenty of promise when finishing second in his only Point-to-Point in Ireland in March. We really like what Pozo Emery is showing us at home and he will be campaigned over two and a half miles over hurdles.

Whiskey Lullaby

Another interesting recruit from Ireland, Whiskey Lullaby is a half sister to the smart Petit Robin and finished second on her only start in a Point-to-Point in October. She made her debut for us at Newbury late in February in the colours of Highclere Thoroughbreds and went into plenty of notebooks after coming from the rear to be beaten three quarters of a length by the highly rated Gran Luna. Whiskey Lullaby is a big, scopey mare very much in the mould of Silver Forever when she began over hurdles.


Adrien-du-pont
Pedigree: seven-year-old gelding
Califet (sire) - Santariyka (dam)
Owner: Mrs Johnny de la Hey
Form: 47130-P
Racing Post Rating 153 chase
Official Rating 147 chase
I fancied him to be in the first four when he was pulled up at Ascot nine days ago. It’s looking more like he wants an easy 3m nowadays, so we may even consider dropping him in trip next time. Has plenty of ability but still inclined to be a bit keen. He needs to be dropped right out and come late – tactics that don’t always work out. When he gets a bit of luck in running there’s a decent handicap chase to be won with him.

As De Mee
9g Kapgarde - Koeur De Mee
Stewart family & Judi Dench
4/214U0/
RPR 153c OR 148c
He picked up a tendon injury in February last year and ended up missing the whole season. Andy [Stewart, owner] is sponsoring a 3m handicap hurdle at Cheltenham this week, so he’ll have a run there, which he’s bound to need, before going to Aintree next month for either the Becher or the Sefton. He loves it round there, having won the Grand Sefton in 2016 and completed three times in total over the big fences. Come the spring he’ll be trained for the National.

Ashutor
5g Redoute’s Choice - Ashalanda
Stewart family
22F3-
RPR 125h OR 119h
We realised last season his breathing was troubling him, so that was sorted in the summer and he could improve significantly for it. If he does then he’d look fairly treated off 119. Since he came back in mid-July his target has been the 0-125 novice handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. I just hope he doesn’t turn out to be a morning glory, as last season he never produced on the track what he was showing us at home.

Ask For Glory
5g Fame And Glory - Ask Helen
Mr and Mrs Paul Barber & Colm Donlon
1(ptp)19-
RPR 125b
Gorgeous type of horse, very much a chaser of the future but well up to winning over hurdles first. He bolted up on soft ground in his bumper, and then he was never going to win a race like the Champion Bumper but nothing was lost by giving him further experience. He’ll want some cut and we’ll take him to Chepstow or Newbury in about a fortnight for a maiden hurdle.

Bathsheba Bay
4g Footstepsinthesand - Valamareha
Michael Geoghegan
32
RPR 104h OR 114h
Decent Flat horse for Richard Hannon who didn’t run for us last winter. He’s had the full works done: he couldn’t breathe properly so we got that sorted, and then he was gelded and took some time to get over it. Has run a couple of tidy races over hurdles and was probably beaten by a smart horse [Scardura] at Taunton last time. Looks a fun horse.

Birds Of Prey
5g Sir Prancealot - Cute
Kathy Stuart
22116-7
RPR 130h OR 127h
Decent fun horse. We gave him a good break as he’d been on the go on the Flat and over jumps, and it was a bit embarrassing as he was as fat as anything when reappearing at Kempton last month. He needed it quite badly and he should go on and win a handicap hurdle.

Black Corton
8g Laverock - Pour Le Meilleur
The Brooks family & Jeremy Kyle
2221-23
RPR 168c OR 163c
He keeps on amazing us and his last three runs suggest he’s still improving. I thought he had a really stiff task in the Galway Plate but he put up another career-best and would have finished closer still but for running into trouble off the home bend. Then he comes back at Ascot the other day off another career-high mark and runs another blinder. Being 10lb shy of top class means he’s not that easy to place, as his number of seconds suggests; I imagine we’ll have to go back into Graded races now and the Peterborough Chase might suit. Whatever happens in the winter his Gold Cup could well turn out to be the Oaksey Chase again at Sandown in April. He’s an absolute pleasure to train.

Blackjack Kentucky
6g Oscar - My Name’s Not Bin
Owners Group 026
6/1(ptp)/833-
RPR 125h OR 128h
Showed promise in a couple of staying novice hurdles in the spring. He’ll be ready in a fortnight and is capable of winning a 3m novice hurdle on soft ground before switching to fences, which is where his future lies.

Bob And Co
8g Dom Alco - Outre Mer
David Maxwell Racing
5345P3-
RPR 135c OR 150c
He’s among our team of nine hunter chasers and one of the more interesting ones. A three-time winner over fences in France, he’s contested many of the country’s top races, over hurdles and fences. The others in the squad are Art Mauresque, Alcala, Lough Derg Spirit (whom Andy Stewart has brought as a replacement for Pacha Du Polder), Bagad Bihoue, Braqueur D’Or, Wonderful Charm, Copain De Classe (who’ll run in the Grand Military Gold Cup), and Southfield Vic. I still get some flak over the horses we run in hunter chases but I don’t worry about it anymore; as I see it we're giving horses a second career who have marks that don’t allow them to win handicaps and, more important, we're giving valuable opportunities for a whole host of very promising young riders.

Bravemansgame
4g Brave Mansonnien - Genifique
John Dance & Bryan Drew
1(ptp)-
RPR 95p
Big, scopey baby, a beautiful individual who cost plenty at the sales but was never going to come cheap having won his only point-to-point very impressively. That performance meant he was the highest-rated four-year-old pointer in Ireland, whatever that amounts to. Has taken a while to get fit and is sure to improve for his debut, but everyone in the yard likes him, so do I. We took him to Wincanton for a racecourse gallop the other day and he’s about a week off a run.

Brelan D’As
8g Crillon - Las De La Croix
JP McManus
15135-U
RPR 142c OR 138c
Ran third in last season’s Grand Annual and those big handicaps at Cheltenham over 2m to 2m4f suit him. Ideally he wants a bit of cut and we’ll take a look at Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup. He’s been a bit unlucky one way or another but should pop up in a good handicap chase somewhere.

Brewers Project
5g Aizavoski - Shaylee Wilde
The Hon Mrs Charlotte Townshend
1(ptp)/
RPR 92p
The horse he beat in his Irish point-to-point in March last year is now a 142-rated hurdler. He sustained a hairline fracture of the pelvis while schooling last autumn, so we had to leave off him. The time off won’t be lost on him and he’s about a fortnight off a run. Nice horse.

Calva D’Auge
4g Air Chief Marshal - Hill Ou Elle
Owners Group
26P22-1
RPR 122h OR 127h
Came here with some decent placed form in the French provinces. He didn’t jump well to start with and we’ve worked hard on that, even so last week’s Plumpton win was a welcome surprise and he had a bit in hand too. Should make up into a useful fun horse.

Cap Du Mathan
4g Kapgarde - Nounjya Du Mathan
Stewart family
42-6
RPR 113h OR 127h
Andy Stewart has re-invested heavily for this season, buying eight new ones, and this is a decent prospect. He showed promise on both his hurdling starts at Auteuil last year, and ran okay on his first run for us, although I should probably have run him in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow, not Cheltenham. He looked as big as anything in the paddock beforehand, so there should be loads of improvement to come and he ought to go close next time provided I find the right race. I love him.

Capeland
7g Poliglote - Neiland
Kathy Stuart
12284-D
RPR 154c OR 143c
Poor old Capeland, that was extraordinary what happened the other day at Ascot. I feel a bit guilty because I told Kathy [Stuart, owner] I thought he’d go well and that our other runner, Diego Du Charmil, who ended up taking him out, was likely to need the run. She’s such a sporting lady and took the whole thing so well. Bearing in mind they disqualified Capeland I was hoping the handicapper would play fair and leave him on the same mark, so I was bitterly disappointed when they rang me to say he had been raised 3lb. If they saw fit to disqualify him from any prize-money then the run shouldn’t count for handicapping purposes. But I’m pleased to say following a few more phone calls they've had a re-think and dropped him back down 3lb, which is the right thing to do. Looking on the bright side, we have a horse who has clearly improved again despite a busy old campaign last season. He’s suited by a fast-run race so these big handicap chases suit him and there’s another very valuable one back at Ascot on the 23rd of the month. Let’s hope he can gain some consolation there.

Capitaine
7g Montmartre - Patte De Velour
Martin Broughton & Friends 2
4102-32
RPR 142h OR 135h
Still useful on his day, as he showed when winning at Taunton last season, but I was convinced his breathing was stopping him late on in his races, so we had his palate re-cauterised in the summer. Showed a similar level form in both runs this season, the latest over a longer trip for the first time. Is better going right-handed on a Flat track so we take him to Kempton (today).


Captain Cattistock
6g Black Sam Bellamy - Pearl Buttons
Mrs Angela Hart
F3131-7
RPR 147c OR 139c
Improved in his first season over fences and should develop into a decent staying handicap chaser. Loves cut in the ground and probably found it a bit too quick when running too fresh and with the choke out at Wincanton last month. Reappears at Fontwell on Sunday in the Sussex National and that should suit him. He’ll get an entry for the Welsh National and those other good long-distance handicaps.

Cat Tiger
5g Diamond Boy - Miss Canon
David Maxwell Racing
1341-21
RPR 123h, OR -
Really promising addition to the team from France. He was not far off the best four-year-old chasers over there last year, despite not being a typical chaser on looks. David Maxwell bought him at the Arqana Sale last November to ride over here and won a £100,000 chase at Auteuil on him a few days later. He was a maiden over hurdles so that’s the route we’ve taken and he benefited from a step-up in trip when making all at Exeter last week. He’s up to defying a penalty and he’s got a real future.


Christopher Wood
4g Fast Company - Surf The Web
Sharon Kinsella
113-04
RPR 140h OR 140h
Took to hurdling really well; his third to Pentland Hills in the Aintree Grade 1 was good form and you can put a line through his latest outing as he was over the top. Had a breathing operation in the summer and should progress in his second season. Considering he’d been a bit behind the others he ran okay at Wincanton on Saturday and we’ll look now at the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, where the flat track will be ideal.

Cill Anna
4f Imperial Monarch - Technohead
Stewart family
1(ptp)-5
RPR 102b
Big strong filly whom we bought after she made most of the running to win her only point-to-point. Needed the run on her debut in a fillies’ bumper at Aintree at the end of October; Bryony got off and said we should make more use of her on a stiffer track, so she’ll go to Cheltenham this weekend for the Listed mares’ bumper. She’s very much in the mould of Posh Trish.

Star quality
Clan Des Obeaux
7g Kapgarde - Nausicaa Des Obeaux
Mr and Mrs Paul Barber, Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson
41152-2
RPR 176c OR 169c
I was thrilled with his comeback at Down Royal behind Road To Respect, when he jumped superbly. He’s made enormous improvement in the last 12 months, and being only seven is entitled to progress further. I certainly feel that’s the case after Down Royal because I know how much improvement he showed from his first run to his second last season. I came back from Ireland and backed him at 7-1 for the King George: to my mind last year’s winner is the one they’ve all got to beat on Boxing Day. Later in the season he’ll be entered for the Gold Cup again and we’ll take a view on that later on. He was bang there at the last in the spring but didn’t get home – as soon as the rain came on the morning of the race I suspected we might be in trouble. But with another year on his back and possibly on different ground, who knows?
Oct 6th 2020............Clan Des Obeaux: I think he's the best he's ever looked. He's still only eight years old. He seems to have been around forever, but he's eight, probably the peak of his life. Our target is the Betfair Chase at Haydock at the end of November, so we don't want to get him ready too quick, but I'm very, very happy with the way he looks and the way he's going. He's not going to go back to Cheltenham whatever happens.

2020.....Clan is in top order at home, as big and strong as he has ever looked, and I'm preparing to take him first to the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 21 and have him really ready. Two years ago he just needed it a bit in the Betfair, ran a cracker, came on for the outing and then won the King George at Kempton.

The flat track at Haydock suits him so well and I am not going there this time thinking of it as a prep race for Kempton. He will be sharper than two years ago, fit enough to do himself justice and is good enough to win.

Then it is on to Kempton trying to land the hat-trick in the King George which is obviously the main focus for him this season. Whatever happens Clan will not be going back to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup.
There are other options in the second half of the campaign, maybe at Aintree, and I'd love to take him to the Punchestown Gold Cup if the meeting is on and we are able to travel to Eire.

RACINGUK....I think he's the best he's ever looked. He's still only eight years old. He seems to have been around forever, but he's eight and is probably at the peak of his life.

Our target is the Betfair Chase at Haydock at the end of November, so we don't want to get him ready too quick, but I'm very, very happy with the way he looks and the way he's going. He's not going to go back to Cheltenham, whatever happens.

Cliffs of dover
6g Canford Cliffs - Basanti
Mr and Mrs John Cotton
11/P/831-
RPR 141h OR 141h
Has been off the track since the turn of the year; there’s been nothing seriously wrong, he just kept getting little niggles, which was annoying. Should be back to run in handicap hurdles from Christmas onwards and I’m sure he’ll have benefited from a nice long break.

Confirmation Bias
4g Presenting - Bonnie Parker
Colm Donlon
1
RPR 108b
One of the more forward youngsters, and he’s a
half-brother to our Persian War winner Ed Bandit. Made his bumper debut at Wincanton on Saturday and won nicely despite being green; Harry [Cobden] had a job pulling him up afterwards.

Coup De Pinceau
7g Buck’s Boum - Castagnette
Colm Donlon
11342-3
RPR 142c OR 137c
Sound, reliable jumper with a laid-back attitude; he struggled a bit in Graded company last season and is never going to be a star but is a decent enough performer at modest handicap level. Ran well enough on his return and should soon be winning round the Ludlows, Tauntons and Wincantons.
Star quality

Cyrname
7g Nickname - Narquille
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
14/3711-
RPR 181c OR 176c
He’s in great shape and everything’s going smoothly in the run-up to Ascot next weekend. We’ll take him for a racecourse gallop somewhere between now and then and he’ll be ready. It’s in the back of my mind that he ran those two underwhelming races at the start of last season, but we’re training him differently now, so it’s up to him to come out and reproduce the level of form he showed with those two impressive victories at Ascot at the turn of the year. He stayed 2m5f so well when he won the Ascot Chase I can’t believe he won’t get 3m, so it will hopefully be next stop the King George and then we’ll make a plan for Christmas onwards. It’s no secret his best form is going right-handed, so I’m happy to keep him that way round in the first half of the season.

2020...I am thinking of starting him off at Down Royal in the Grade 1 JNWine Champion Chase on October 31 when he will be ready to run for his life. I want to find out before the King George if he truly gets three miles and the Irish race should give me the answer. If he wins or runs really well then we have plenty of time to freshen him up for Kempton.
Cyrname did an awesome bit of work at Wincanton a week before he beat Altior at Ascot in November but our horse had a seriously hard race which maybe left its mark at Kempton where he couldn't lay a glove on Clan Des Obeaux. He then fell heavily on his return to Ascot in February on testing ground but he was working well again and would have run in April until all racing was called off.

I'm pleased to say Cyrname looks tremendous. He is more relaxed now which means we can do a little bit more with him at home. I couldn't be happier with him and if he shows he doesn't stay three miles at Down Royal then I'll drop him back to two-and-a-half miles.

Oct 6th 2020...........Cyrname: He would have run in the spring if we'd have carried on and gone to Sandown and the ground was okay. He'd recovered. He was actually winded that day. He had no physical injury. He was just winded. I was fairly confident when I got to him, in that deep old ground, he'd given everything, as soon as we got some oxygen into him, the vets were brilliant, he was absolutely fine and he didn't take long to get over it funnily enough. I had him cantering away and he was ready to run again, as I said, in April but obviously, we couldn't. He looks great now. He's had a great summer, he's in as good a shape as he was this time last year. He's a little bit more laid back now in his work and everything he does than he ever used to be, but he looks great and he's scheduled at the moment to go to Down Royal because I'd love to see if he gets three miles there.

RACINGUK...He would have run in the spring if we'd have carried on and gone to Sandown and the ground was okay. He'd recovered and he was actually winded that day (when he fell in the Ascot Chase). He had no physical injury, he was just winded. I was fairly confident when I got to him, in that deep old ground, he'd given everything, and as soon as we got some oxygen into him, the vets were brilliant, and he was absolutely fine and he didn't take long to get over it, funnily enough.

I had him cantering away and he was ready to run again, as I said, in April but obviously, we couldn't. He looks great now. He's had a great summer and he's in as good a shape as he was this time last year. He's a little bit more laidback now in his work and everything he does than he ever used to be, but he looks great and he's scheduled at the moment to go to Down Royal because I'd love to see if he gets three miles there.


Dan McGrue
7g Dansant - Aahsaypasty
Mr and Mrs Paul Barber, D Bennett & D Martin
1/P3P-21
RPR 138h OR 130h
Had been crying out for a breathing operation so we got that sorted over the summer and it's clearly been a massive help, judged by the improvement he showed to win a handicap hurdle at Plumpton last week. Could go for another handicap hurdle at Newbury on Ladbrokes Trophy day, then we’ll have the option of going novice chasing – he’s won three point-to-points – or staying over hurdles. Mr Barber favours the first option, the other owners the second option, so that’s for them to agree on.

Danny Kirwan
6g Scorpion - Sainte Baronne
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
1(ptp)10/22-
RPR 140h OR 120h
Showed a lot of promise when runner-up in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Ascot last season before suffering a small setback in February. He’ll resume over the hurdles in the spring and is probably well handicapped. We’ve always thought a lot of him.

Danny Whizzbang
6g Getaway - Lakil Princess
Angela Tincknell
P1(ptp)/11-
RPR 141h OR 139h
Big, old-fashioned chasing sort whose future was always going to be over fences. Surprised us a bit when showing a lot of improvement from his first outing to his second; didn’t run after March as he needs cut. Had a breathing operation in the summer and that could really help now he goes chasing; takes a bit of getting fit and we’ve pencilled him in for a 3m novice chase at Exeter at the end of the month.

Danse Idol
6m Dansant - Screen Idol
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
612221-7
RPR 127h OR 129h
Lovely mare, who showed consistent form in novice hurdles last season, since when she had her wind done over the summer. We’re following the route we took with Posh Trish last season, so it was always the plan to take her to Wincanton on Saturday, where I fancied her but she was disappointing. She needed her first run last season so perhaps that’s what it was. We’ll stick to mares’ races this season.

Darling Maltaix
6g Voix Du Nord - Rosalie Malta
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
3155F-4
RPR 134c OR 128c
Not an easy ride and has been too keen in his races. Ran quite well on his chasing debut at Ascot nine days ago and provided he relaxes should improve sufficiently to win a race over fences.

Deadline Diva
4f Frankel - Hurry Home Hillary
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
1F90-8
RPR 110h, OR 120h
Disappointed on her three runs for us, when she was much too keen and had trouble settling. We found she made a noise so she’s had a breathing op and we’ve started again from scratch. Seems more relaxed and I’m hopeful she can put those disappointments behind her on an easy track.

Diego Du Charmil
7g Ballingarry - Daramour
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
5/5235-1
RPR 164c OR 156c
Spent much of last season chasing Altior in Graded races. We felt he was struggling with his breathing so he had an operation over the summer and it just goes to show what a difference that can make. The op helped him improve a few pounds and we were back in business at Ascot. It was unfortunate he went and followed the loose horse and virtually ducked out at the last – they can do that sometimes at Ascot, looking for the paddock exit – and I felt so sorry for Kathy Stuart that Capeland was taken out, as I said beforehand I thought Diego was the one who would need the race. I expected Diego to blow up in the straight but he actually went and ran on again after negotiating the birch upright at the last. His revised handicap mark will put him in no-man’s land and he won’t be easy to place. He’ll get an entry in the valuable Hurst Park Handicap Chase back at Ascot later this month and he may well be forced back into Graded races. Has done most of his racing at around 2m but I’m itching to try him over 2m4f.


Dolos
6g Kapgarde - Redowa
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
2315-12
RPR 162c OR 157c
I love his sire and I love him too! He’s a tough and genuine chaser who can be a bit in-and-out but is essentially decent. An impressive win under top weight at Kempton in May left him a bit in no-man’s land handicapping-wise, but he ran a good race in the Haldon Gold Cup last week, a race we had targeted since he came back in. He needs to improve again to remain competitive in decent handicaps, but being six has age on his side.

Dr Sanderson
5g Jeremy - Guydus
JP McManus
/14115-P
RPR 133h OR 133h
Won three novice hurdles for us last season when he suffered on and off with sore shins; didn’t come down the hill at Cheltenham on his final run. Disappointed on soft on his Ffos Las chasing debut; probably wants better ground and is well up to winning races over fences provided we keep him at the right level. Suited by a flat track.

Duc De Bourbon
3g Buck’s Boum - Astre Eria
JP McManus
Unraced
A particularly nice three-year-old who is doing everything nicely and is being aimed at a four-year-olds’ bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Dynamite Dollars
6g Buck’s Boum - Macadoun
Michael Geoghegan
4/12111-
RPR 162c OR 157c
It was only a minor injury he suffered last season but it meant his having to sit out the spring. He’s back in training and I’m going to try to get him ready for the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas, but I suspect it will be the new year before we see him back. In that case I’d aim to get two runs into him before Cheltenham, when the Champion Chase will be his No. 1 aim although he’ll also get an entry for the Ryanair as it maybe he wants 2m4f now. His novice form stacks up well, with Ornua, who he beat at Sandown, and Kalashnikov, who finished behind him at Kempton, both going on to win Grade 1s at Aintree. His season is all about getting him to the second day of the festival in peak form.


Eason
5g Coastal Path - Maitresse De Maison
Andrew Williams
166-2
RPR 120h OR -
Bit of a giant, not a true bumper horse in appearance, so perhaps it wasn’t surprising he failed to step up on his debut win. Ran a bit green on his hurdling debut at Chepstow and looks a maiden winner waiting to happen. Lovely chaser in the making and is a horse who won’t come into his own until going over fences in a year’s time.

Ecco
4g Maxios - Enjoy The Life
Colm Donlon
66-11
RPR 135h OR 141h
Gorgeous horse who is two from two over hurdles this season without ever coming off the bridle. Came from Germany with decent Flat form but a gelding operation knocked him back quite a long way and I was always slightly on the back foot with him in the spring. We threw him in at the deep end, running him in the Adonis, then the Triumph, and he was far from disgraced in either. We had his breathing done in the summer and he has come back a different horse entirely. Is ready to step up in grade now and could reappear at Cheltenham this weekend if we wanted to, but the two races I have in mind are the Kennel Gate at Ascot next month, then the Grade 1 Tolworth, although I should stress nothing is set in stone. And then we’d give him a break before Cheltenham.


Eallarna
5m Lucarno - Oeuvre D’Art
Axom LXIX
330-
RPR 98b
Placed in a couple of bumpers last season and has since had a breathing operation. We should be able to place her to win a mares’ maiden hurdle, hopefully starting at Ludlow on Thursday.

Enrilo
5g Buck’s Boum - Rock Treasure
Martin Broughton & Friends 4
141-1
RPR 127h
I love this horse and he’s one of the novice hurdlers I’ve been particularly looking forward to. He fell asleep a bit and ran green before quickening up nicely when making a winning hurdling debut at Wincanton; we’ll find another similar event and then look to step him up in grade.

Envoye Special
5g Coastal Path - Santa Bamba
Brooks, Kyle & Mason
622/262-6
RPR 134c OR 131c
I’ve always liked him but he was a big, backward baby last season which meant I could never train him as I wanted. I think some of these Coastal Paths need time, so that’s what we’ve given him. He also had a wind op in the summer, since when he has improved physically, so I’m hopeful he’ll win races over fences. Looks to be on a decent mark.

Eritage
5g Martaline - Sauves La Reine
Angela Tincknell
131-F5
RPR 119h
Bumper winner last season and one I like. He’s not an easy ride as he’s very light-mouthed. He was too keen on his hurdling debut at Wincanton and it’s been a similar story at home with his schooling, so we took him to Exeter for a novice hurdle last week to educate him, by dropping him in and teaching him to settle. He'll have benefited enormously from that and although he’s very much a chaser of the future there’s now no reason why he shouldn’t win over hurdles.

Favorito Buck’s
7g Buck’s Boum - Sangrilla
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
4416P2-
RPR 136c OR 131c
One of the lesser lights who has his good days and his moderate ones. He was on a good day when winning a decent handicap chase at Ascot last November and again ran well back there in March but returned a bit jarred up. Back cantering again, he’ll be ready around Christmas when the aim will be to win another handicap chase.

Fidelio Vallis
4g Saint Des Saints - Quora Vallis
John & Lisa Hales
2-7
RPR 106h OR -
He was bought for John Hales in the spring after showing a lot of promise on his hurdling debut in France when chasing home a Grade 1 bumper winner at Auteuil. He was one of those who ran just an ordinary race first time and his blood wasn’t great after. He’s been a bit keen, and has to settle into our way of doing things, and relax, before he can progress. But he’ll be okay in time.

RACINGUK....He obviously won the RSA, won that nicely, the form was great, and it was a setback last year not being able to run him, but sometimes a big horse like him, a year off never does them any harm. He's had time to mature and he looks fantastic at the moment.

I'm very happy with his prep and just need to keep him sound and well and head off to Newbury. That's the plan, anyway. There's not really anything suitable to run him in beforehand where the ground would be safe as a prep run for that, so we have to try and 'do a Denman' and get him there in the best of shape, fit enough to go and do himself justice.

Flash De Touzaine
4g Kapgarde - Narcisse De Touzaine
Stephen White
3
RPR 104b
Big four-year-old from a good French family who stayed on strongly in his Killarney bumper for Liz Doyle. We bought him in the spring because I love the sire. He’s just had a wind op and won’t be ready to run in a couple more bumpers until around Christmas.

Flic Ou Voyou
5g Kapgarde - Hillflower
Colm Donlon
4/110-23
RPR 129h
Big, strong sort with masses of scope. Won his two bumpers on soft and I always knew he’d make a smooth transition to hurdling as he’s been schooling for the best part of two years. Probably should have won on his jumping debut at Chepstow as he was a bit free and ran a bit green. In hindsight we should possibly have made more use of him at Wincanton on Saturday. He’s crying out for 2m4f.

Friend Or Foe
4g Walk In The Park - Mandchou
Gordon & Su Hall
44101-
RPR 112h OR 128h
After he made all at Taunton on his first run for us we tried to protect his handicap mark for the festival but he missed the cut for the Fred Winter by a couple. He went on to disappoint at Newbury when we fitted a tongue-tie but he spat the dummy out and didn’t enjoy it. He had a breathing op over the summer and he should be competitive in handicap hurdles. A big, immature horse last season, he’s got bags of scope.
Star quality

Frodon
7g Nickname - Miss Country
Paul Vogt
12111-3
RPR 177c OR 169c
What an amazing little horse he is! He had a breathing operation 15 months ago and the improvement he's gone on to show has been remarkable, winning all those big races. We started off again in the Old Roan, where obviously he wasn’t suited by having all those fences taken out. Aintree was always meant to be a prep for the Betfair Chase, a race I think is made for him. A tight 3m round Haydock, which is a flat track, should be perfect. Then he’ll have an entry for the King George and, come the spring, an entry for the Gold Cup too. That said, I suspect we might end up trying to win another Ryanair. He and Bryony [Frost] get on so well together and I’ve no doubt he’ll be giving his all again right through the season.

RACINGUK.....The plan is to go for the Charlie Hall and he is in good shape. We want to campaign him a bit more over three miles this season, as that is what he definitely wants. He just wasn’t quite good enough last season and has probably lost a gear as well. He has won a Cotswold Chase over three-one and I think three miles is his trip now.

Star quality
Getaway Trump
6g Getaway - Acinorev
Owners Group 023
24411-3
RPR 142c OR 155c
I hope he’s going to be a really smart novice chaser. He didn’t come back in until mid-August – a month later than the others – and he wasn’t quite ready when making his chasing debut at Cheltenham at the end of last month. But if he was going to run in Sunday’s Arkle Trial at Cheltenham I had to get a run into him somewhere, and he travelled and jumped beautifully before getting a bit tired and finishing third to Al Dancer. There’s an enormous amount of improvement to come and we’ll be quite happy to take on the winner again. To think the season before last we couldn’t even win a bumper with him. He was a bit free and lit up early in his carer but once he settled he just took off and has kept on improving. It wasn’t easy deciding whether to stick to hurdles or go chasing, but he’s always been a chaser on looks and he's obviously a really exciting prospect.

Give me a copper
9g Presenting - Copper Supreme
Done, Ferguson, Kyle, Mason, Nicholls & Wood
1/U1/4F4-1
RPR 152c OR 142c
He’s not easy to train but I knew if I could get him back there was a big race in him and it all came right on Saturday in the Badger Beers, where I thought he’d go well but might just need it. We didn’t see the best of him last season. Having showed at Sandown first time that he retains his ability, things didn’t go right after. He probably wants a flat track and, being a bit fragile, we don’t want to be running him too often; a month between races is okay so we might look at the Becher Chase, but down the line the National would be his big aim.

Glenlivet
4g Flemensfirth - Gleaming Spire
Thomas Barr
6
RPR 105b
He’s a brother to the decent 2m4f chaser Knockgraffon. Showed us plenty in his work in the spring and has again been catching the eye this autumn; everyone who rides him likes him, so on the face of it he was a bit disappointing when we ran him in the bumper at the first Chepstow meeting. I’d been due to take him to Salisbury for a racecourse gallop but they abandoned the meeting and he just needed the run. He’s a beautiful traveller and is going to be a serious horse in time.

Golden Gift
5g Gold Well - Five Star Present
Mr & Mrs Paul Barber, Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson
22-3
RPR 116h
Comes from a good Irish family and is a really likeable individual. Quite green in both his bumpers last season, he did well physically over the summer and made his hurdling debut at Chepstow last Wednesday. He’ll improve for the run and should win novice hurdles when stamina is at a premium.

Grand Sancy
5g Diamond Boy - La Courtille
Martin Broughton Racing Partners
14210-F
RPR 155h OR 152h
I was thrilled with him at Wincanton on Saturday; they think a lot of Nicky Henderson’s horse [Fusil Raffles] although I suppose he might have needed it. If ours had just jumped the second-last it might have been very interesting. He’s another good advert for a summer breathing operation; having got his wind sorted a year ago his form improved massively. It was a good bit of placing by the team to win the Kingwell Hurdle, but I’ve never seen him developing into a Champion Hurdle contender. We’ve now got some thinking to do – do we stay over hurdles or go chasing? There’s no rush to decide.

Greaneteen
5g Great Pretender - Manson Teene
Chris Giles
3/611-0
RPR 134h OR 132h
One of a couple who ran really disappointingly at the first Chepstow meeting; we never got to the bottom of it and found out why. Has always had plenty of ability although hasn’t been the luckiest from an injury point of view. Had a little setback after winning at Fontwell in January, bringing his season to a premature end. Goes novice chasing now and should be competitive in his own grade round the smaller tracks.

RACINGUK...He is a nice horse and the plan is to go to the Haldon Gold Cup. He ran very well at the Cheltenham Festival in the Grand Annual and he did nothing but progress last season. I could see him running in a Tingle Creek if he progresses.

Highland Hunter
6g Subtle Power - Laughing Sparkle
Thomas Barr
10/1135-
RPR 133h OR 131h
He won twice over 2m4f for Lucinda Russell on heavy ground last winter – I understand he cut his leg on his last run but he’s fine now. Strangely for a horse who has won over hurdles his schooling has been fairly ordinary until recently. Seems a decent prospect for staying handicap hurdles on soft ground and we’re going for the £100,000 Brush Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday week.

Hugo’s Other Horse
5g Gold Well - Wicked Crack
Stewart family
41-
RPR 107b
Cue Card’s half-brother looks a decent sort for staying novice hurdles. I didn’t see him as an ideal type for bumpers, but he showed a lot of improvement from his first run to his second when winning at Fontwell. Andy Stewart is over for Cheltenham this weekend so he’ll run in the Listed bumper there on Sunday and then go over hurdles.

If You Say Run
7m Mahler - De Lissa
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
/1232P-1
RPR 137c 142h OR 140c 140h
Despite her showing good form last season she had ongoing wind issues so we had her palate re-cauterised in the summer. After she made the perfect start to her chasing career in a mares’ novice at Worcester, I decided to use her allowance against the geldings in the Rising Stars at Wincanton on Saturday. She had a tough task and I knew she had to improve so she probably ran as I expected. We can go back to mares’ events and she’s sure to win plenty more races.

Jeremy Pass
4g Jeremy - Toulon Pass
John Dance
F(ptp)-
RPR 91p
Lovely stamp of a horse – you look at him and think he's our future here. He was unlucky in his only point-to-point, as he would have been first or second but for being virtually brought down at the last. Has done plenty of work and I like what I see, so he’ll be ready to start off in a bumper in around a week or so.

Kapcorse
6g Kapgarde - Angesse
JP McManus
61/7117-
RPR 146c OR 141c
Lovely individual, one of my favourites. He’s been green and backward and I’ve had to be patient with him, but he’s getting stronger as he gets older and he definitely has a future in staying chases. I’ve no doubt we have yet to see the best of him and he should win a nice staying handicap chase on soft ground. He’s had loads of work, including a racecourse gallop at the weekend, and following another one somewhere should just about be ready, so the plan is to run in the Ladbrokes Trophy first time out; he looks on a fair mark and I see him as a lively outsider for Newbury on November 30.

Magic Saint
5g Saint Des Saints - Magic Poline
Mr & Mrs John Cotton
2510F2-
RPR 152c OR 148c
On the back of an impressive Wincanton win we fancied him for the Grand Annual, but not for the first time he disappointed. He’d been troubled by his breathing so we got that operated on in the summer and I hope there’s a lot more to come from him, especially when he learns to relax more. Has age on his side and could be suited by stepping up in trip. Hasn’t been easy to get fit but, following a racecourse gallop over the weekend, is getting there now and could reappear on Saturday in the BetVictor Gold Cup.

Magoo
7g Martaline - Noche
Brooks, Fulton & Vogt
1/1/F425-
RPR 130h OR 126h
Was a bit unlucky not to have won a handicap hurdle at Sandown in March where he probably hit the front too soon. After we tweaked his wind again in the summer he goes for novice chases on soft ground round the likes of Fontwell and Plumpton.

Malaya
5m Martaline - Clarte D’Or
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
/FF410-3
RPR 124c OR 142c
She was hard to train for much of last season as she’d had an infection in a hind leg and it kept on troubling her, but she came good in the spring and won the Imperial Cup. Although she had a couple of tired falls over hurdles I think she’ll give fences more respect, but she jumped a bit novicey on her chasing debut at Market Rasen and returned with a nasty cut. She’s back cantering after ten days on the easy list and we’ll look for a mares’ beginners’ chase somewhere. If it turns out she doesn’t like fences we can always go back hurdling.

Dark horse
Master Tommytucker
8g Kayf Tara - No Need For Alarm
Tony Fear
11/F-
RPR 143h OR 143h
One of my favourites. He was very unlucky when suffering a tiny knee fracture when falling on his Chepstow chasing debut last season. Everything has gone well since his return and he’s been schooling away fine, so following a racecourse gallop at Wincanton at the weekend he’s just about ready to start. We’ll go back novice chasing, starting somewhere small and then hopefully creep up. Despite his obvious lack of experience he possesses a huge amount of ability.


McFabulous
5g Milan - Rossavon
Giraffa Racing
1711-2
RPR 118h
A half-brother to Waiting Patiently, he has looked a high-class prospect from day one and had a fantastic season in bumpers, when his victories included the Grade 2 at Aintree. He’d come back with sore shins after failing to come down the hill at Cheltenham earlier on. It’s been a struggle getting the weight off this autumn and he’s been a bit behind the others fitness-wise, so I’d expect him to come on enormously for his run at Chepstow last week. He didn’t hurdle fluently and will have to improve his jumping in order to progress. Although we started off at 2m we’ll step up to 2m4f next time.
2020.....He ended the season with a brilliant success in the EBF Final at Kempton and I will be training him with the Stayers' Hurdle in mind at Cheltenham in March.
McFabulous will start off in the Persian War Hurdle at Chepstow on October 9 if the ground is all right and under a new rule brought in this year because of Covid he remains a novice until December 1 which gives us more options for him. Even so, next race I am considering for McFabulous is the Grade 2 long distance hurdle at Newbury on what was Hennessy weekend.

RACINGUK.....Physically, he's done very well. He's a big, strong horse now and he’s a half-brother to Waiting Patiently, so he's from a good family and was a good bumper horse for us. He was very slow last year over hurdles, to get his act together, and he was very slow at home schooling. He had a fall at home schooling and his first run at Chepstow, the hurdle fell down in front of him and he lost his bottle a little bit.

Then he went to Ascot on very heavy ground. He wasn't right and underperformed, but because of that, he actually handicapped himself a little bit and I just thought, we're not going to win at Cheltenham with him this year, it's a bit too much, why not try and win the EBF Final? So we went to Market Rasen and he won there quite nicely plus jumped brilliantly.

He got a really good mark and went to Kempton and I honestly couldn't see him being beat that day. It all fell into place for him. He was going to be at Sandown the week before where the ground was testing and it was abandoned. Going to Kempton the Saturday after Cheltenham suited him well and he loved it around there and he put the race to bed very, very quickly and easily. He's a proper horse, he is.


Mick Pastor
3g Meshaheer - Mick Oceane
JP McManus
1
RPR 131h OR -
Potentially exciting recent arrival from France. Looked impressive when making a winning debut at Auteuil in May and I was delighted to see the runner-up went on to win their three-year-old Grade 1 Champion Hurdle the Saturday before last, so his form is really good. We all like him and he’s done everything right so far; the only fault I can find is he’s been a bit keen at home, so he’ll have to settle when he races. Lets’s see what he can do at Cheltenham on Saturday in the juvenile hurdle.

Miranda
4f Camelot - Great Artist
Owners Group 034
11P-8
RPR 118h OR 127h
The ground was too quick when she was pulled up on her final run last season, after which she was found to be in season. She’s a good fun horse for minor handicap hurdles, when she should be suited by a flat track and soft ground.

Mont Des Avaloirs
6g Blue Bresil - Abu Dhabi
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
4/2307P-
RPR 140c OR 142c
I had high hopes for him over fences last season but he didn’t jump well on his debut and was then largely disappointing when reverting to hurdles. He’s a big horse who has needed time, so we gave him a nice long break over the summer. And he’s had a breathing op, which will hopefully help him now he tries novice chasing again. I can see him leaving last season’s form behind.

My Way
5g Martaline - Royale Majesty
McNeill family & Chris Giles
72328-F
RPR 141c OR 127c
Considering what he’d done in France I had high hopes when he came here a year ago but it didn’t happen for him over hurdles. We had his wind done over the summer and that’s going to make a big difference judged by what I saw at Plumpton, where he jumped really well back over fences before taking a crashing fall at the last. He was sore for a few days but is back in good form and I’m sure there are races to be won with him over fences. He did well over them in France.

NEXT DESTINATION
He has had the best part of 18 months off since he won at Punchestown. We are on top of everything at the moment and if we keep him sound he will be a very nice novice chaser as he has schooled well. He could go to Fakenham for a three-mile novice chase.


Nimix De Juilley
5g Al Namix - Halbina De Juilley
JP McManus
1-
RPR -
He was bought for JP a year ago but has only recently joined us. Made a winning debut over hurdles at Strasbourg in France last autumn, but our handicappers won’t give him a mark yet. At least he can go for one of those races open to winners of a single race. I’m a bit in the dark about him for now.


Old Gaurd
8g Notnowcato - Dolma
Brooks family & Jeremy Kyle
232634-
RPR 159h OR 152h
He got a bit jarred up in the spring, the first time in his life he’s had an issue of any kind, so he’s not been out since February. Came in a bit later than the others but is getting there now and may return in the Coral Ascot Hurdle, in which he finished second last year. What an amazing servant he’s been! In 34 runs for us he’s been out of the money only six times. I know he didn’t win last season but he put up any number of good placed efforts in Graded company. I could be temped to try him over fences again in a graduation chase at some stage.

Oleg
4g Kamsin - Dramraire Mist
Middleham Park Racing XII & A & J Ryan
212-1P
RPR 117c OR 126c
After his Wincanton win I probably ran him again a bit too quick when he burst a blood vessel at Kempton next time. We’ve learned he needs more time between his races, needs to be kept fresh and to be running round the smaller tracks.
Overland Flyer
8g Westerner - Love Train
Colm Donlon
P/22P71-
RPR 133c OR 128c
Operates around the smaller tracks over fences and loves fast ground; I’d been hoping to get him out earlier but it’s been too wet. Reappears in a 3m handicap chase at Taunton on Thursday and he’d make a good hunter chaser if anyone’s interested in buying him.


Star quality
Pic D’Orhy
4g Turgeon - Rose Candy
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
1U220-F
RPR 138h OR 146h
I’m really excited about this horse and I think the world of him. He just got a bit tired when fading in the Triumph on his one and only run for us; it’s not easy for these French horses who cross the channel mid-season. He was one of the best juveniles in France before he came to us, so on the back of two racecourse gallops we took him back to Auteuil yesterday for their Grade 1 four-year-olds Champion Hurdle, the Prix Renaud Vivier and thankfully he is fine after his fall.
Oct 6th 2020.........Pic D'Orhy: Last year, we didn't run him in the Champion Hurdle. We never thought he's been a champion hurdler or a speedy horse. He's a really staying, chasing type of horse. He was bought as a chaser, so it was just about biding time now actually until he went chasing, and of course, we got lucky and won the Betfair Hurdle which was brilliant. He's all ready to go in fencing and that's where his future will lie I'm sure.
2020....We bought him from France to be a chaser and that is what he will be doing this winter, possibly starting in a novice Chase at Market Rasen, ground permitting, on October 17, a race we've won in the past with Dynamite Dollars and Azertyuiop. He looks great and put up a classy performance when winning a competitive Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February.

Pic D'Orhy is a big horse, schools nicely and has bags of scope but he can jump the odd fence like a hurdler and needs to respect his fences as he gains experience.
I can't wait to get him started over fences and we'll make a plan once he has run at Market Rasen. He has a big future.

RACINGUK...Pic D'Orhy was successful in this year's Betfair Hurdle
Last year, we didn't run him in the Champion Hurdle. We never thought he's been a champion hurdler or a speedy horse. He's a really staying, chasing type of horse.
He was bought as a chaser, so it was just about binding time now actually until he went chasing, and of course, we got lucky and won the Betfair Hurdle, which was brilliant. He's all ready to go in fencing and that's where his future will lie, I'm sure.


Star quality
Politologue
8g Poliglote - Scarlet Row
John & Lisa Hales
1/14422-
RPR 173c OR 166c
He’s in the best form I’ve ever had him at this stage of the season. He looks, and is working, great. Considering he hadn’t always run up to his best at Cheltenham in the past I was so proud of his effort when chasing home Altior in the Champion Chase. We gave him a wind op over the summer, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and after he didn’t get home over 3m in the King George last season we’re happy to stick to 2m this winter. I can’t wait to see him come back in the Shloer Chase on Sunday, then we’ll go on to the Tingle Creek – a race he won two years ago, the Desert Orchid, the Clarence House, then have him fresh for the festival. If Altior stays up in distance and Willie Mullins goes elsewhere with his latest superstar [Chacun Pour Soi], I hope we can end up running another big race in the Champion Chase.

Posh Trish
6m Stowaway - Moscow Demon
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing
21118-3
RPR 135c OR 142c
Really smart, tough mare and just looking at her – she’s so big and strong she could be a gelding – I’ve been excited for a long time to see what she can do over fences. I don’t think she got the credit she deserved for a blinding run on her debut behind two smart horses, Jarveys Plate and Reserve Tank, at Chepstow. She’s sharper for the run and sure to win races, hopefully starting at Bangor on Wednesday in a 2m1f mares’ Listed novice chase. At some stage I wouldn’t be frightened to use her 7lb allowance against the geldings as she’s high class, without a doubt.

Present Man
9g Presenting - Glen’s Gale
Mr & Mrs Mark Woodhouse
43/184P-P
RPR 155c OR 148c
From the day he came back in our number one aim was to get him to Wincanton on Saturday ready to run the race of his life and try to land the Badger Beers Chase for the third year on the trot – plenty have done the double but no horse has won it there times – but when the rain came I knew it wasn’t to be. It ended up quite testing and that isn’t his ground at all. We could now look at the Becher Chase again but the ground will have to be suitable, and Doncaster is a track we’ll look to target over the winter. The middle part the season can a bit of an anti-climax as he doesn’t operate as well on winter soft ground.

Quel Destin
4g Muhtathir - High Destiny
Martin Broughton & Friends
11115-1
RPR 148h OR 149h
Super tough four-year-old who has now won six of his eight hurdle starts for us. Got slightly injured in the Triumph Hurdle and came back a bit sore, but it was nothing serious. It can be a tough old season for second-season juvenile hurdlers, but after a pipeopener on the Flat he came out and won again at Cheltenham, where the heavy ground was ideal. We thought about bringing him out again in the Elite Hurdle, but we’ll give him a bit more time and the idea is to go either for the Greatwood on Sunday if the ground is testing or step him up in trip in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot later this month. Later on, one race I think would be made for him is the National Spirit at Fontwell in February.

REAL STEEL
I’m told he is better right-handed and his form suggests that, but he did run well in the Gold Cup where he looked a non-stayer. I think we will start him off in the Christy 1965 Chase that we won last year with Cyrname. To me he is a Ryanair horse.

Red Force One
4g Lethal Force - Dusty Red
Done Ferguson Mason
43-12
RPR 129h OR 129h
What a massive improver! He started the season a maiden over hurdles – albeit a good one having finished fourth in the Adonis – and already he’s shaping into a smart handicapper. He can always go back to novice hurdles, but he’s obviously one for some of the big handicaps after his run in the Listed handicap at Ascot, where he would have won in another stride. He’s in the Greatwood, and although that might come too soon I must admit 10st 1lb does look very attractive. Later on a suitable target might be the very valuable handicap hurdle back at Ascot just before Christmas.

Red Risk
4g No Risk At All - Rolie De Vindecy
Middleham Park Racing
75429-1
RPR 114c OR -
Hasn’t long arrived in Ditcheat. He was bought shortly after winning his second start over fences in France at Auteuil in September. Obviously I don’t know too much about him yet.

Rhythm Is A Dancer
6g Norse Dancer - Fascinatin Rhythm
W Harrison-Allan
15P14-3
RPR 116c OR 127c
Won three over hurdles last season despite struggling with his breathing, so we’ve had that seen to over the summer and he’s a good fun horse to go chasing with. Always needs a run or two and finished a bit tired at Fakenham on his debut, but is capable of winning races over fences at his own level.

Romain De Senam
7g Saint Des Saints - Salvatrixe
Dan MacDonald & Chris Giles
1412-14
RPR 154c OR 148c
Has been on an extended summer break and will be prepared for a spring campaign, when he’ll be trained for the Grand National. He’s best on a flat track and likes decent ground, so the National could really suit him. Before Aintree he could take in what used to be the Racing Post Chase at Kempton in February.

SAINT SONNET
He ran well at Cheltenham having only won at Catterick the time before. I will give him a run over hurdles somewhere then he will have an entry in all the good two-and-a-half-mile handicap chases, including the Paddy Power, which might be a nice race for him.

Saint Xavier
7g Saint Des Saints - Princesse Lucie
David Maxwell Racing
463146-
RPR 139c OR 150c
Useful handicap chaser in France, successful twice over fences there. He’s a maiden over hurdles so he’ll go novice hurdling at around 3m for owner/champion amateur David Maxwell.

Sametegal
10g Saint Des Saints - Loya Lescribaa
Mr & Mrs John Cotton
21/2338/
RPR 153c OR 141c
He’s classy but fragile and has had no luck with injuries in recent seasons. We were trying to get him ready for Wetherby over Charlie Hall weekend but he wasn’t ready, so the Grand Sefton at Aintree next month is now a possibility. He hasn’t won for over three years but has a very good record first time out.

San Benedeto
8g Layman - Cinco Baidy
Paul Vogt
60173-6
RPR 164c OR 152c
Has struggled with his breathing from day one and for that reason is a bit in-and-out. Geoff Lane, who carries out our breathing procedures, says he must be a really good horse to have won as many races as he has. Ran with a bit too much enthusiasm when dropping out on his return at Market Rasen last month and goes next for a 2m6f handicap at Newbury on Ladbrokes Trophy day. Not at his best on winter ground, he’s more of a spring horse and showed he’s still capable when winning the Greatwood Gold Cup in March. Loves decent ground and a flat track, although he spends much of his life in the grip of the handicapper nowadays.

Sao
5g Great Pretender - Miss Country
Mrs Johnny de la Hey
242/72-2
RPR 110c OR 124c
Frodon’s half-brother used to be a hard-puller at home like Cyrname was. He’s had another wind op and judged by what I saw on his chasing debut at Kempton he is well capable of winning a novice handicap off his mark. Bearing in mind his breathing issues he may prefer a flat track.

Scaramanga
4g Mastercraftsman - Herboriste
Malcolm Denmark
3212-8
RPR 129h OR 132h
Looked on a winnable handicap mark so we took him for the good four-year-old hurdle at Chepstow in October but he found the ground too soft and I admit he was disappointing. Put a line through that run, his blood wasn’t 100 per cent afterwards, but he’s come right now. Will be out again soon and will want better ground.

Secret Investor
7g Kayf Tara - Silver Charmer
Hills Of Ledbury
22411-2
RPR 155c OR 150c
Ran very well on his comeback at Down Royal when the soft ground went against him. He’s a hard horse to get right first time, so he’ll come on an enormous amount for the run. Last season he took a couple of outings before he clicked over fences; he’s a big horse who loves going long into a fence, although he wasn’t so clever when asked to go short. But he came good in the spring, helped by a change of tactics when we rode him more positively, and he was particularly impressive at Ayr. Where we go next I don’t know; he’ll be entered for the big handicaps and Grade 2s.


Sending Love
6g Scorpion - Dato Vic
Jared Sullivan
1(ptp)-
RPR 92p
One of two sent to me by Jared Sullivan, so it’s nice to have him back on board. He won an Irish point in early 2017 and was with Willie Mullins last year when suffering a cracked pelvis. He schooled nicely last week, when we must have jumped the best part of 50 horses, and is about a fortnight off a run.


Silver Forever
5m Jeremy - Silver Prayer
Colm Donlon
11312-11
RPR 134h OR -
Smashing mare. We’re taking the Posh Trish route with her, so she started in the same mares’ novice hurdle at Chepstow we won last year with Posh and she won as she liked. Then it was on to Newbury last week when she just held on from a nice filly of Nicky Henderson’s [Floressa]. Over 2m she found the ground plenty quick enough, and if it’s softer and the pair meet again back at Newbury at the end of month she’s got a good chance of confirming the form on worse terms. Hopefully she can end up in the Listed mares’ novice at the Festival.
2020....It is highly likely this smart mare will be going chasing this season but I need to talk to her owner Colm Donlan before making long term plans. She can easily jump fences but we might start her off first in a good hurdle race. There are some decent mares races over hurdles and fences but she would also be very effective against the geldings as well.

Silver Forever is in good shape, coming on nicely and should be ready to run in a month's time. She is a winning pointer, jumps very well, won a Listed race at Sandown in January and after a very minor setback was being prepared for a spring campaign when racing came to a half.

Sir Psycho
3g Zoffany - Open Book
Martin Broughton & Friends
41
RPR 104h OR 117h
Athletic type who had showed a lot of promise in his only run on the Flat this year in a Leopardstown maiden in the spring. Jumped a bit ordinary first time for us and he needed the run, but cheekpieces woke him up at Wincanton next time and he won comfortably. I need to find a handicap next as he’s been given a very attractive mark; after that we can look for something better.

Skatman
4g Mastameet - Maid For Auction
Chris Giles
1 (ptp)
RPR 92p
Doesn’t have the greatest of pedigrees but is a smashing individual. Won his maiden point at Dromahane impressively and the first three home are all based at Ditcheat now. We bought him at the Doncaster sales and surprisingly he cost less than the horse he beat. He’s done everything asked of him very nicely so I’m looking forward to seeing him shortly in a bumper.

SOLO
We will start him off at Wincanton in the Elite Hurdle and go from there. He has been gelded during the summer. He was very good at Kempton in the Adonis, but he got lost a little bit round Cheltenham in the Triumph and he may have been over the top. He will improve this season as we have started from scratch with him.

Southfield Harvest
5g Kayf Tara - Cham

Stop yis talking shoite for a few hours.

Anthony Honeyball Stable Tour 2020/21


Here, Anthony discusses current plans.


ACEY MILAN (IRE) Goes novice chasing this season, wants ground on the easy side of good; 2m2f-3m nov hcap chase maybe Aintree early Nov. Feel his mark is workable in spite of performing well last season. Hoping he can progress into pattern chases.

AVOIR DE SOINS (IRE) He's had his problems but hopeful he can win a little handicap hurdle if his jumping holds up; if he can win one he might end up winning three! First things first, though.

BELLE DE MANECH (FR) Nice filly. Seems to handle any ground, will start in a mares' maiden hurdle; nearly ready to run. Home work is good, ignore final run last season where she was probably feeling the effects of a gruelling race at Ascot. Nice mare to follow.

BLEUE AWAY (IRE) Had an issue with cramping at the back end of her race; really pleased with her now and hopefully she'll go well in a mares' maiden hurdle early November. Really good jumper, probably start over two miles, ridden positively. Very hopeful.

BOB BACKUS (IRE) Taking his time to come to hand, and might need a bit of experience in novice hurdles; perhaps won't fully come to himself until novice handicap chases.

CAPTAIN CLAUDE Half brother (Flinck) placed in Silver Trophy so promising sign. Just getting going now so hope to run in a bumper in Spring.

COQUELICOT (FR) Very strong galloper. Was a star for the yard and her owners (a geegeez syndicate) last season, winning three (including Listed bumper). The further she goes the better she goes. She'll start off in a maiden hurdle and then go down the mares' novice route, hopefully ending up at Cheltenham in March.

DEJA VUE (IRE) Schooled really well over fences; appreciates heavy ground and front running. Small field mares' novice chase and proper winter ground will be ideal for her.

DON LAMI Trained really well so far, wants good to soft ground and should be competitive in three mile handicap chases, hopefully still progressive

DREAMING BLUE (GB) Has the stamina to make a juvenile; schooling has been fine, improving each time. Excited to see how he fares, probably starting next month. Also has the option to have a run or two on the flat.

FANFARON DINO (FR) Huge horse; showed well in bumper but no good twice in novice hurdles; bred to be very good (half brother to Champion Hurdler, Epatante). Might be seen to better effect in handicaps. Soft/heavy, 2m4f

FIRESTREAM (GB) Spring horse, strong pedigree. Could be very nice.

GABRIEL’S GETAWAY (GB) Staying pedigree, so likely to need more time. Might be ready for a spring bumper but more likely one for next season

GLORIOUS ISOLATION (IRE) Schooled eye-catchingly well, and has a fair engine. Might go straight to mares' maiden hurdles to make use of her athleticism.

GUSTAVIAN (IRE) Goes into handicaps off 120 which looks a decent starting perch. Dropped in usually because he's keen at home; but ended up having a bit too much to do more than once. There weren't many hurdles to jump the day he won, but he did it well. He's talented and will be well in if not pulling his chance away. Might progress to be a Pertemps type.

HIDEAWAY VIC (IRE) Going chasing. Schooled very well. Has had breathing issues, had a wind op. Handles deep ground, but 120 may not be a gimme in novices' handicap chases. That said, hoping he can win off that mark. Soft ground, 2m4f-3m

HOWLINGMAD MURDOCK (IRE) Apart from the name, he has a fair bit going for him! Brother to Easy As That, who is a very talented horse. Very straightforward so far. Looking towards spring bumpers with him.

JEPECK (IRE) Qualified already for the veterans' final, and that will be his primary target.

KAYF SERA SERA (GB) Another who if she wins one she might run up a sequence. Ran well on her debut at Ffos Las but not gone on over hurdles. Should improve with another summer on her back and may just need her first run back.

KHALINA STAR (GB) Geegeez syndicate mare. Still growing, good size; will come back in when the weather gets colder and be aimed at a spring bumper

KID COMMANDO (GB) Lovely horse, ran a cracker in the G2 Dovecote Hurdle. Always wants to please. Will ideally like 2m4f, softish ground, and could feasibly handicapped even off 136. Ready to go towards end of October, maybe at Aintree and then on to Haydock on Betfair Chase day.

KILCONNY BRIDGE (IRE) Mares' handicap hurdle at Wincanton next month is the initial target for her, then go from there. Tough ask off 126 but she's earned that after four wins last season. She'll jump a fence, maybe later in the season. Has schooled nicely, though may want to go right-handed

LE COEUR NET (FR) Quietly progressive from season to season, now rated 115, and will probably follow a similar path to last season (conditionals' race at Newbury, handicap chase at Wincanton)

LILITH (IRE) Think she wants soft ground - she has a very high knee action; looking forward to getting her over fences but will go novice hurdling this season. 2m4f mares maiden hurdle mid-Nov onwards in the mud

LILY THE PINK (GB) Has a bit of scope and may be interesting over a fence, but we may try to win one more handicap hurdle first.

MARCO ISLAND (IRE) Lovely big horse, aiming for a bumper in the spring but may not be quite ready until next autumn. Very much a chaser in the making

MARILYN MONROE (IRE) Runs off a lowly mark, and if she has any ability should be able to win races on decent ground. She is quirky but has schooled well and will be ready to go soon.

MIDNIGHT CALLISTO (GB) Lovely mare, schooling well; ready to go now in a mares' maiden hurdle. Has minor black type already, and looking forward to seeing how far she can go in that sphere.

MIDNIGHT TUNE (GB) Had a palate fire; pulled up in two of her last three, and this will probably be her final season before going to the paddocks. She'll be aimed at decent mares' chases and/or good class staying handicap chases. We love her to bits, and she owes the yard nothing.
MONT SEGUR (FR) Few little setbacks but has run very well in between. Quirky but really talented; schooled well over hurdles but won't go novice hurdling until after a bumper (or two) at Ascot end of the month.

MOONDANCER (GB) Well related to flat horses, smart flat pedigree but doesn't behave like a flat horse. Slowly getting the hang of things, and will be aimed at bumpers late this year.

NOCTURNAL MYTH (GB) Good work horse at home. Got a fair mark, had a wind op, should go very well in a handicap hurdle. Will then kick on over fences. Could be a lot of fun if he clicks this season.

PRECIOUS (IRE) Very (like, very!) big mare, and carries a lot of condition; but she always responds in her work. Hoping she'll be ready to go in November (both her sisters have won bumpers)

PURE VISION (IRE) Pretty good on his day but hasn't taken much racing in recent times; had a palate fire. Goes on any ground, probably better on softer side, 3m+. Everything seems right just now so hoping he'll be competitive again.

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) Superstar for the yard, likely to go back to Ascot before heading towards Aintree. Plan is well understood after a number of years the same: try to win a valuable handicap at Ascot before a tilt at the National. That said, might have a spin in the Becher this season.

REPRESENTED (IRE) Back cantering; wants quicker ground. Has had over a year out, but is looking really well now and hoping he's nicely handicapped off 107

ROCKET ROBBO (GB) Juvenile bumper horse. Quite pleased with him; he was bred by his owner who also bred Malinas Jack. Robbo was a little tentative at first but has been getting the hang of things. Hopefully be ready for a junior bumper in early December.

SAM BROWN (GB) Doing well. Planning to go to Haydock on Betfair Chase day where there's a valuable graduation chase, 2m5f. After that, not sure: maybe Welsh National, maybe the Grade 2 chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. But first things first!

SOJOURN (IRE) Could have a nice weight for something like Welsh National; would have to win another smaller race first and then aim for a nice pot. Maybe the Tommy Whittle or something of that ilk.

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE x QUIET THOUGHT Nice filly, will aim for spring bumper; if not, autumn.

SULLY D’OC AA(FR) Talented horse; had a palate fire just to give him every chance, feel like there's a very good handicap in him. Might want to run on good to soft ground, and definitely has a playable mark. Could drop back to two miles.

SWINCOMBE FLEAT (GB) Related to Firestream, be running in a bumper in November we hope. Good size, learning all the time, feels like a nice mare. Hopeful she'll go close on debut.

UCANAVER (GB) Really caught the eye when second to Coquelicot, with a winner in third and distance to the rest. Will run in a mares' bumper this week and looking forward to seeing how she goes.

WAGNER (IRE) Very nice horse; hard to know where to start: could go handicap hurdling but he has schooled well over fences, too, so a bit of a conundrum. Could be progressive, and seems nicely handicapped.

WINDANCE (IRE) May have another run in a bumper before going novice hurdling; schooling well though so could go straight down that route.

WINDSWEPT GIRL (IRE) Another geegeez mare, she keeps surprising us. We don't really know what her level is as she only ever does enough at home. She's very laid back, but won a minute at Taunton, albeit in a weak-looking race. Will either school more and go mares' maiden hurdling, or she'll run in another bumper; probably the latter.

WORLD OF DREAMS (IRE) Super pedigree, close up to Samcro on the page. Ready to run in a bumper in a fortnight or so.

YOU CAUGHT MY EYE (IRE) Stayed on really well in a weakish bumper; will stay in bumpers for now before going mares' maiden hurdling.

The 2.40 in Carlisle looks a cracking little race today. Black Op looks a bit overpriced to me, Will love the testing conditions, has easily the best chase form and despite being 9 is still relatively lightly raced.

i am having a little fancy on prospecterous in the 3.20 33/1 will hope for a place

Absolutely no chance he stays the Gold Cup trip in my eye unless he's trained with the Kenyan marathon runners during the summer.

Topofthegame is the same price and he might still be a broken horse after injury but I'd have him over Cyrname for the Gold Cup any day.

Cyrname can't get the KG trip, no way he goes for the GC

Plasandrunt wrote: »

Cyrname can't get the KG trip, no way he goes for the GC

He stayed 3 miles at wetherby so your point is dismissed.

He wasn't the the same after the Altior race last year. He sold his soul to the devil beating Altior. It messed up Altior's campaign too. Cyrname wasn;t the same horse after so I'm very happy to put a line through last years king george run.

He'll show up fresh and ready this year!

akelly02 wrote: »

its going to be a great gold cup all the same

lostintranslation
santitni
al boum
cyrename
champ
minella indo
topofthegame
the great percy
allaho


serious juicy race if they all get there fit and well

Ah here Allaho for the Ryanair!

supremenovice wrote: »

If I owned Al Boum Photo, I'd have been a bit sceptical of a two race campaign to begin with. But if it delivered me back to back Gold Cups, with a serious chance of a third, then I'd wrap him in cotton wool and buy him his own massage parlour.

You would be delighted owning him, why slog it out in the trials and come placed for the big one, least he will also run at Punchestown

Cheltenham Friday 19th March Triumph Hurdle

Duffle coat 33/1 2pts e/w powers

my first ante post bet.

IAMAMORON wrote: »

He gets a pass because winning 2 Gold Cups is proper currency, but they definitely wrap them in cotton wool a lot more these days... and to the detriment of the sport. You have to look at the race on Saturday to see the shight that goes on, that is a shame.

Would still love to see Al boom Photo have a shot at a King George.

Al Boom would get his arse handed to him in a King George. Too fast for him