GordonElliott

15:05 Clonmel

Lord Redsgirth

Today's race looks very competitive but he won his maiden hurdle at Down Royal in pretty good style and has been in good form at home since then. The ground should be similar this afternoon, so he'll have no excuses on that score but Willie (Mullins) has a couple of useful sorts entered and his Back In Focus is already a Grade 2 winner in Britain. We have a bit to find on form but our fellow is a decent sort and I'm hoping he'll run into the places.

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13.30 Ayr

Mae's Choice

I've been impressed with her last couple of runs - she's showing us a lot more on the racecourse than she had been at home. She's dropping back to two miles for the first time, which is a real worry but she's still in great form. I think the big galloping track and soft ground will suit her and we'll also make the running with her to ensure it's a test, so she should go close again.

13.30 Ayr

Narjawa

She's a very nice filly and has a good rating on the flat (given a mark of 80 after winning a maiden at Sligo in August). Whatever she does today, I think she should be capable of winning a maiden hurdle in Ireland after, and she certainly looks a nice mare for the future.

14.00 Ayr

Dont Back Down

He won on New Year's Day, when Paul Carberry gave him a brilliant ride. He's a tough horse, he'll stay going and this big galloping track should also suit him. He made the running the last day and he'll do the same today if nothing else wants to make it. Davy Russell is coming over to ride him and I expect him to run well.

14.35 Ayr

Eight Is My Number

He's had a wind operation since his last run and so we're hoping he has improved for it. That wasn't a bad first effort over fences but even though there are only three runners in today's race, he has a little bit to find with the other two. That said, he's in good form and he won't disgrace himself so hopefully he'll go close.

18.00 Wolverhampton

Face Value

He won impressively at the track on Saturday and he's come out of the race very well so we're going to run him again. He's dropping back a furlong in trip and has a six-pound penalty to carry but he should take all the beating again.

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14:35 Down Royal

Beef To The Heels
He's in good form at home and we've freshened him up since his last run, where he finished second behind Hats And Heels at Naas. He mightn't just want the ground as soft as it's likely to be at Down Royal this afternoon but, as I said, he's in good shape and he has the form to go close. Davy Russell is on him and he'll probably ride him prominent from the off.

Vapiano
He has been a bit disappointing but we're still learning with him. We're stepping him up to two-and-a-half miles today and I'm hoping that it'll bring out a bit of improvement in him.

13:35
Chicago Grey
I think people know all about Chicago Grey at this stage. He's back over hurdles for the Galmoy Hurdle this afternoon and even though there are only five runners, it's a very tough race. It'd be nice if he could pick up some prize money in what will be his final race before the Aintree Grand National.

15:05
Szabo's Destiny
He won well at Naas earlier this month, but he went up eight pounds for the win. He gets in off bottom weight in the handicap hurdle and Daniel Benson, who had his first victory over hurdles with that win, will ride him again. It's a much better race this time but he's only a four-year-old and is improving so he should go well.

15:05
Tharawaat
Tharawaat runs in the Thyestes but he still looks high enough in the handicap and I don't think the ground will be soft enough for him today. All his wins have come on very testing going and it looks like being no worse than soft this afternoon. Really, he wants it nearly unraceable.
He always gives his all and Davy (Russell) will probably ride him prominently, as he usually does, but it looks a tough ask - it's as competitive as it always is - and I'm just hoping for a good run.

15:35
Grey Soldier
He has been disappointing but he is well handicapped over fences in comparison to his mark over hurdles and this is his first handicap chase. He would like the ground to be a bit better but, as I have always said about him, he shows us loads at home and the ability is there. He's capable of going well today but isn't the most reliable.

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13:40, Musselburgh
Mae's Choice
I was a little surprised that she won so easily at Downpatrick last time out but she's improving all the time and is in great form at home. I'm sending her over to Musselburgh today so that she can run against her own sex again and, even though this is probably a better race than the last one, she should go very close. Jason Maguire will ride her and he'll probably have her handy from the start.

14:40, Musselburgh
Raajih
Rated 75 on the flat when trained in Britain but a bit disappointing on his two starts over hurdles for us. He's only a four-year-old and we're still learning with him, so we're bringing him over here today to see if the better ground will show him in a better light. If that's the case, he could run in to a place.

15:40, Musselburgh
Oscar Hill
Pulled up over hurdles a couple of runs ago but ran better when third at Fairyhouse last time. He's making his debut over fences today but has schooled well and Jason Maguire, who rides him, may try and make the running with him. He's in good form at home so I'm hoping he'll go very close.

16:10, Musselburgh
Spring Lane
I was a bit disappointed with him when he finished eighth at Down Royal on his debut but, as I said before that race, I thought that whatever Spring Lane did that day he'd certainly come on for the run. He's a horse I think will be alright in time and he should appreciate today's ground so I'm hoping for a better run. Jason Maguire will take his time on him and he should have an each-way chance.

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20:20 Dundalk

Face Value

He won his maiden hurdle on his debut for us back in October at Punchestown but he's been off since then and we're going to bring him back on the all-weather tonight. He was a maiden of six races on the level when he came to us but he had shown some ability for Brian Meehan. As I said, he's had a bit of a lay-off so we're just hoping for a decent run, and he'll probably wait until he gets a bit of better ground to resume over hurdles. Colin Keane claims a handy 7lbs.


21:15 Dundalk

Sounds Of Thunder

Sounds Of Thunder was very disappointing over hurdles last time out but she just doesn't handle really heavy ground. She was also well beaten when last seen on the all-weather here back in December. She's been dropped a couple of pounds since then but she'll have to find her form to get involved. At her best, she would have each-way claims.

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12:30, Fairyhouse
Alubari
Alubari is having only his second run over hurdles in today's opening race and he ran very green when finishing well behind Midnight Game in a good maiden at Leopardstown over Christmas. Today's race looks very competitive and he should be better when he gets decent ground but he's come on for his debut and we're hopeful he can run well.

13:00, Fairyhouse
Rocky Wednesday
Rocky Wednesday got off the mark over hurdles when winning his maiden at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day. He won very well that day and is in good form at home but today's race is a bit of a step into the unknown because we're running him over two-and-a-half miles for the first time. Davy Russell rides him and if he gets the trip, I think he should go well.

Sounds Of Thunder
Sounds Of Thunder was up against it in the mares' hurdle at Leopardstown last time out but she ran a very good race behind Our Girl Salley. Paul Carberry, who rode her that day and is on here again today, gave her a great ride and, on that form, she'd have each-way possibilities here.

13:30, Fairyhouse
The Shepherd
The Shepherd was just touched off by a horse of Noel Meade's (Gran Torino) at Down Royal last time but he's in very good form at home. He's a nice horse and even though this looks a very competitive beginners' chase - he looks to have another of Noel's horses to beat today (Aitmatov) - I think he should go well again. Davy Condon won on him on his only previous time riding him and he takes the mount again.

15:10, Fairyhouse
Oscar Hill
Oscar Hill carries top weight in the novices' handicap hurdle but he ran out and had to be pulled up the last day and so we're just looking for a clear round and a decent showing.

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We were delighted with Shadow Catcher when he made a successful debut over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. After the race, Paul (Carberry) said that he was a bit keen early but he won well in the end and he thought he was a nice horse. The Grade 1 race at Leopardstown next month is the plan for him and, all going well, he'll go to the Triumph Hurdle after that.

Mount Benbulben has had a break after his defeat behind Boston Bob in the Navan Novice Hurdle but he's in good form now. We'll have a look at possible engagements for him but I'd say he's likely to go straight to the Cheltenham Festival.

Don Cossack has gone home for a break so if you see him at all you won't see him until later in the year. The Rockview Bumper at the Curragh or a similar race in Limerick are his most likely targets at this stage but, as I've said in the past, we're going to take our time with him.

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12:55 Leopardstown - Save The Bacon

Save The Bacon hasn't been seen on the track since this day two years ago when he was second in a hurdle race (then trained by Tony Martin) but he has run in a couple of point to points this season. He's in good form but this race looks way too hot for him and I can't hope for much more than a clear round and a decent showing.


13:25 Leopardstown - Sounds Of Thunder

She makes a return to hurdling after a few runs on the flat and she's in good form but, like Save The Bacon, she really looks up against it. It's a hot race, which you'd expect for a Grade 3, and so we'd be delighted if she could sneak into the places and pick up some black type.


14:30 Leopardstown - Toner D'Oudairies

He had to be pulled out of a race in Navan last week but he's fine and has been in very good form at home recently. I think the step up to three miles should suit him and so I'm hoping for a good run. It would be more ideal if we could get a bit of rain but he should still run a good race. Davy Russell is on him and he'll ride him the same way as usual - not too far off the pace.


15:05 Leopardstown- Vapiano

Vapiano was a beaten favourite on his only start in a bumper (when trained by Willie Mullins) and he makes his hurdling debut for me today. He jumps pretty well at home but this looks a hot race to be starting off in and we're still on a learning curve with him. Paul Carberry rides him and I'm hoping for a decent run which will tell us where we stand with him.


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12:55 Leopardstown - Oscar Hill

Oscar Hill made his track debut for us at Fairyhouse recently and he ran quite well to finish fifth behind Bay Of Kotor. This is very competitive and he'd like better ground so I'm just hoping for a decent run from him. Barry Geraghty rides him and he'll take his time with him early.


12:45 Limerick - Canna

His run at Cheltenham was a lot better than it looked (sixth behind Triumph Hurdle favourite Baby Mix) and we were very happy with him. It looks a very good race today but he has plenty of experience over hurdles now. Davy Condon rides him and he should run well, though he does prefer better ground.


15:20 Limerick - Grey Soldier

Grey Soldier has promised the sun, the moon and the stars but, as yet, he's failed to deliver. He has always worked really well at home but we're yet to see it on the track. Mark O'Hare claims a very useful 7lbs and he'll ride him positively. He continues to disappoint but I know he has the ability.


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