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was a quick tour..like a bat outa hell.
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Ballyfad
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle 20-1 Turners Novices' Hurdle, 8-1 He'll run in the Supreme or the Turners. We haven't made a final decision on which one yet, but you could see him running a big race in the Turners, couldn't you? He's improving all the time and has some rock-solid form against classy horses. Wherever he shows up, he'll make his presence felt. He's a very nice horse and is going to make a smashing chaser. I'm already looking forward to that. Brighterdaysahead Unibet Champion Hurdle, 3-1 She's great. We were dead set to send her chasing this season, but she missed a bit of time in the autumn and Michael [O'Leary, owner] thought it was a bit late to be losing her novice status at Christmas with half the season gone. I knew she'd improved since Christmas, but I wasn't sure whether she'd improved enough to beat Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle. She did everything right there and showed people what I see all the time. I've loved her from day one. We'll go back for another crack at the Champion Hurdle and hopefully we'll get her there in the shape of her life. She wasn't right in it last year. I knew the way she was moving, passing me with a circuit to race, that something was amiss, and it was. She'll be a different mare there this year. Brighterdaysahead and Jack Kennedy in splendid isolation in the Irish Champion Hurdle Brighterdaysahead: her trainer promises "she'll be a different mare" in this year's Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) Casheldale Lad Unibet Champion Hurdle, 66-1 He's had a really good season and kept progressing from race to race. He's got an entry in the Champion Hurdle and we'll decide a bit closer to the time whether he'll take up that engagement. El Cairos Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 6-1 This chap is rapid. We haven't had too many quicker than him at Cullentra. Jack [Kennedy] blamed himself for what happened at the last at Thurles. He just felt he didn't ask him to do one thing or the other. Before that, he'd jumped great and settled well in a slowly run race. I wanted to go for a race like that at Thurles, rather than a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, just to get his confidence up. He's working great, looks great and we're looking forward to the Supreme. It's going to be one hell of a hot race but it'll take a fair one to beat him. Favori De Champdou Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase, 6-1 He's come alive of late. He won the Paddy Power Chase at a big price but there was no fluke about it. He won it fair and square. We then took him to Cheltenham for the cross-country race last month and he bolted up. He never missed a beat and you'd like to think he'll go back there next month with a big chance. Firefox Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 50-1 I was delighted with him in the Irish Gold Cup. He ran a huge race from off the pace and might have earned himself a crack at the big one. We'll see how he is over the next few weeks, but it's definitely a possibility. Found A Fifty BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, 25-1 He never lets you down. He beat Dinoblue at Navan in November and then went to Cork and beat Majborough. He'll be a big price in the Champion Chase if we decide to go there, but would you be surprised if he sneaked into third or fourth? I wouldn't. He was second to Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle a couple of years ago. There are options for him at home as well. Highland Crystal Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, 12-1 Jack said it wasn't really ideal being in front at Naas on Saturday as she was looking around the whole way. She's probably more of a Fred Winter filly, but we'll see what sort of mark she gets. We could keep her for Fairyhouse. Honesty Policy Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 7-2 I'd say he'll go straight to the Stayers' Hurdle now. I was keen to run him in the Boyne Hurdle, but the ground was too heavy and he's not the biggest horse in the world. We'll get a racecourse gallop into him somewhere. He was a very good novice last season and we went over to Ascot for the Long Walk before Christmas to find out where we stood with him. Needless to say, we were thrilled with the way he ran. He stays well and has a touch of class to go along with it. Jalon D'Oudairies Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 50-1 He was a good bumper horse and I liked the way he went from the last to the line at Naas on Saturday, even though it wasn't the strongest race. I'll talk to Michael and Eddie [O'Leary]. We'll see about Cheltenham, but we also have Fairyhouse and there's prize-money to be won in Ireland as well. Jack said he gave him a good feel. Kala Conti Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase, 12-1 She's been a revelation this season. She was brilliant on her first two runs over fences at Cork and probably bumped into a very good horse in the Scilly Isles at Sandown. She's in the Mares' Chase and she could go there, but there are plenty of options for her at home as well. Kazansky Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 20-1 He's come a long way in a short space of time. He's a good, solid stayer who won well at Limerick over Christmas and ran well against Doctor Steinberg in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. He's the sort of horse I could see running a big race in the Albert Bartlett. That race should suit him. Keep Him Company Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 16-1 He's a fair sort. You'd have to love the way he hit the line at Leopardstown over Christmas and, if there's a bit of cut in the ground, I think he'll run a huge race in the Champion Bumper. I like him and he's got a great attitude. Keep Him Company: expected to run "a huge race in the Champion Bumper" Keep Him Company: expected to run "huge race" in the Champion BumperCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) King Of Kingsfield TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, 25-1 Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase There's the option of three races – the Plate, the Grand Annual and the novice handicap chase. He has plenty of experience, with seven runs over fences, and we'll see what race might suit him best closer to the time. Mange Tout JCB Triumph Hurdle, 16-1 There's the option of the Triumph Hurdle, but we'll have a look at the Fred Winter and the Mares' Novices' Hurdle for her as well. There's also a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse at the back of my mind. Narciso Has seemed to beat her fair and square at Leopardstown, but there's no shame in that as I'd say he's a proper horse. It's hard to see how we could reverse that form in the Triumph. This mare is going to win loads of races and hopefully we'll pick the right ones for her this spring. Oldschool Outlaw Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, 7-2 She's improving fast. I thought she took a big step forward from Naas to Fairyhouse the other day and you'd have to love the way she quickened right away from a decent mare after the last. The longer she's been with us, the better she's been getting. She's a really lovely mare. Road Exile Turners Novices' Hurdle, 33-1 He seemed to hate doing the donkey work in the Moscow Flyer, so I wouldn't judge him too harshly on that. He's a much better horse than you saw at Punchestown and we're thinking of running him in the Turners. Romeo Coolio Singer Arkle Novices' Chase, 7-1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, 6-1 I know we're all thinking about Cheltenham and what race he should go for there, but we shouldn't forget he's already won three Grade 1 novice chases this season and it takes a fair horse to do that. If the Turners Novices' Chase was still on the Cheltenham programme he'd be going there and there'd be no ifs and buts about it. That's his best trip at the moment. The WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is probably the right race for him, but I know the lads who own him will want to go to Cheltenham and you can't blame them for that. I'd be worried he'd be on his head a little bit in the Arkle if they all showed up and I could see him travelling lovely in the Brown Advisory, but he'd be trying that trip for the first time under rules if we did that, which wouldn't be ideal. We'll make a decision nearer the time. He's a star and we're lucky to have him. You'd be hoping he might line up in the Gold Cup some day. Romeo Coolio: held on to win the Irish Arkle Romeo Coolio: "He's a star and we're lucky to have him"Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) Skylight Hustle Turners Novices' Hurdle, 7-1 We thought he was one of our best bumper horses last season, but he didn't run the way I hoped he would at Fairyhouse. It's been much more like it this season and he's already a Grade 1 winner. I know people said he was lucky against Talk The Talk, and he probably was, but Jack said he really hit the line hard, so I think the Turners is made for him. He's a very classy horse who always works well. He had three quick runs before Christmas, so we've freshened him up for Cheltenham. Spinningayarn Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, 20-1 He's a fine stamp of a horse and will make a lovely novice chaser next season. I liked what I saw from him at Punchestown and I'd say he might go to the Albert Bartlett now. Stellar Story Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, 66-1 If the ground turned up soft on Gold Cup day, he could outrun his odds. He's an Albert Bartlett winner who likes Cheltenham and he's a proper stayer. Teahupoo Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle, 7-4 He's been the horse of a lifetime and has already won seven Grade 1s. He's a bit unlucky not to have won more than one Stayers' Hurdle, but he goes back there with a great chance. He was brilliant at Christmas and I don't think that extra run before Cheltenham will do him any harm. We have plenty of time to freshen him up and he'll be bang there at the business end. It'll take a good one to beat him. Jack Kennedy punches the air as Teahupoo crosses the line in the Christmas Hurdle Jack Kennedy punches the air as Teahupoo crosses the line in the Christmas HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) Theflyingking Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, 33-1 He’s a nice stayer who we'd have liked to have got more runs into, but he had an issue with his jaw. He could turn up in the Albert Bartlett. The Goffer Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, 12-1 I was thrilled with his run behind Vanillier the other day at Punchestown and that'll set him up nicely for a crack at the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham. Western Fold Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, 7-1 I couldn’t believe how well he ran at the Dublin Racing Festival as he hadn’t been back doing full work for long. He'll come on loads for that and that makes me think he has a big chance in the Brown Advisory. The ground should suit and he’s got lots of experience, which will stand him in good stead in a race like that. Willitgoahead Festival Hunters' Chase, 16-1 He hadn’t been with us long when he was third in the Hunters’ Chase last year and all roads have led back to that race. I was delighted with him at Down Royal at Christmas and hopefully we can get him to Cheltenham in the best possible shape. He’d have an each-way squeak if we did. Wodhooh Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, 2-1 She's some bit of stuff, although she doesn't do anything fancy at home. She's very laid-back, but she knows how to win and she just keeps on winning. I was thinking of having a crack at the Grade 1 against Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth over Christmas, but in the end we stuck to mares' company and I think we made the right decision. It turned into a sprint but she still won well. I was keen to go straight to the Mares' Hurdle after that, so that's what we're doing. She's won at the track and she ticks almost every box. She's one of our best chances of the week. She never lets us down. Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham next for Wodhooh Wodhooh: "She's one of our best chances of the week"Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos) The rest: day-by-day plan Tuesday We have a few in mind for the Fred Winter, with not only Highland Crystal and Mange Tout, but also Combs, Wackestone, Hardy Stuff, Lynches Knock and Barbizon in the mix at the moment. The Irish don't have a great record in the Ultima Handicap Chase, but we have Search For Glory, Patter Merchant and The Enabler as possibles this year. Alongside King Of Kingsfield, Jacob's Ladder, Dee Capo and Down Memory Lane are on my radar for the Plate, while Kurasso Blue, Patter Merchant, The Enabler and Will Do are four who are under consideration for the National Hunt Novices' Handicap Chase. Wednesday Things haven't gone according to plan for The Yellow Clay this season, but I definitely wouldn't be giving up on him yet and he's a possible for what was the Coral Cup, along with Farren Glory and Ndaawi. As well as The Goffer and Favori De Champdou, Chemical Energy, Conflated and Pied Piper will get an entry in the Cross Country Chase, and Touch Me Not, Golden Joy and Relieved Of Duties will be considered for the Grand Annual along with King Of Kingsfield. I'd imagine we could have plenty of runners in the Champion Bumper and the likes of Broadway Ted, With Nolimit and Charismatic Kid could all join Keep Him Company, who looks like our number one at the moment. Thursday The Jack Richards will probably be a hot heat, but King Of Kingsfield plus Jacob's Ladder and Wingmen would have the right sort of profile for it. Croke Park could be our representative in the Ryanair Chase if Firefox goes for the Gold Cup. The Enabler, Patter Merchant, Kurasso Blue and Prends Garde A Toi will all get an entry in the Kim Muir. Friday Ndaawi ran a cracker in the County Hurdle last year and might go back for another crack at it. Bowensonfire has turned a corner and the hustle and bustle of that race could really suit him. He impressed me at Leopardstown and I'd say he beat a well-handicapped horse there. The Martin Pipe has been good to me over the years and it's a race I always like to have a few for. He Can’t Dance, Son Of Anarchy, Wendrock and Open Secret are all possibles for it at this stage, but it's early days. |
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You gone soft rico ?
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had an E Wrechsun earlier kavvie..thx for askin.
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Injection due to wearing of leisure lycra ?
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