Alfred James
5g Old Vic - Jupiterís Message
Mrs Rose Boyd
 Learned a lot from his first run in finishing second in a 25-runner bumper at the Punchestown festival. He met with a little setback but we hope that he will return to action in the second half of the season. It would be great if he could win a bumper before going over hurdles next year.
 

Allee Garde
6g Kagarde - Allee Du Port
Doran Bros (London) Ltd
 
Official rating: 139h

Placed on all but one of his four starts in bumpers before winning a couple over hurdles including a three-miler at Gowran Park last season. He won a beginners chase nicely and is a natural jumper. We hope he will progress to contest top staying novice chases in the spring. Being closely related to Clan Royal, the Aintree National could be a possibility in years to come. He was third at Leopardstown over Christmas and will be entered in the RSA Chase and the 4 mile NH Chase at Cheltenham.

Horse Reports

WPM

WPM

Allure Of Illusion
5g Captain Rio - Sixhills
Mrs S Ricci
 
We were hoping to run him in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but he failed to make the cut. He went to Aintree and he ran well in third but knocked a joint. He was second after being badly hampered in Punchestown and the form of that race is working out well. He’s a spring horse who prefers nice ground and will be entered for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Apt Approach
8g Bob Back - Imminent Approach
Greenstar Syndicate
 
OR 140c
Hard to place off his rating. He’s won only once over fences and ran second in a Grade 2. While he might win a Grade 3 he is more a handicapper. 2m4f-plus suits and he’ll mix chasing and hurdling. He won over fences at Thurles in November and again in Tramore on 1st January. He then won a grade 2 chase again at Thurles. He should improve further as the season progresses and the ground dries out. He will be entered in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Are Ya Right Chief
6g Flemensfirth - River Clyde
Mrs M McMahon
 

RPR 107b

He’s a brother to Skorcher and, like him, he’ll appreciate plenty of distance. He won a bumper at Fairyhouse and the form of that race has been well advertised since. He jumps well and looks a nice prospect for staying novice hurdles. He just failed over 2m 2f at Gowran last time and we will step him up in trip now.

Arvika Ligeonniere
6g Arviko - Daraka
Mrs S Ricci
 

OR 144h
We were looking forward to novice chasing with him last season but a setback meant he missed the campaign. He’s back in pre-training and it will probably be well into the new year before he ís ready. He’s a big horse who needs a good cut in the ground and we’ll be taking a long-term view and won’t be rushing him. If it looks that his season is going to be short then we might be satisfied in giving him a few runs over hurdles and wait until the following season before sending him fencing.

Aupcharlie
5g Daliapour - Lirfa
Alan Potts
 

A useful recent addition to the team, he did well in bumpers last season when he fared best of the Irish-trained horses when third in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He disappointed on his first run over hurdles and was second at Leopardstown at Christmas. The drier ground and the extra half mile made a big difference when he won at Leopardstown.

He will be entered in all the novice hurdles at Cheltenham over two and a half miles plus.

Avoca King
9g Luso - A Queen By Phar
T Merrigan
 
He disappointed at Wexford last month on his first start of the season, but then redeemed himself by finishing third at Thurles.  He is a big, strong individual who is built like a chaser. All being well, we hope he will be paying his way shortly.

Back In Focus
6g Bob Back - Dun Belle
Andrea & Graham Wylie
 
A fine big horse who won a point-to-point and Grade 2 novice hurdle over 3m on heavy at Newcastle last season. The plan is for novice chasing but it may be the New Year before he’s ready to start for us. A good distance and testing ground seem to be his requirements

Bagber
5g Diktat - Torcross
Allan McLuckie
 
He won three on the Flat and although bred for that game he has the size to go chasing. We’re hoping he takes to it and he’ll start off around 2m. He won over hurdles last season. He jumped very well on his chasing debut at Navan until a bad mistake two out put paid to his chance. Unfortunately, he pulled some muscles and will be out until about Easter.

Ballyhaunis
6g Daylami - Ballet
Mrs S Ricci
 
OR 134h
We’ll probably miss the worst of the winter ground and wait until the spring before starting his season. He won a couple of hurdles last season and, while we might give him a spin or two over fences, we are looking more at running over hurdles.

Bishopsfurze
6g Broadway Flyer - Supreme Dipper
Mrs C M Hurley
 OR 138h

He won three of his six hurdles last season when his jumping was far from fluent. Ruby gave him a great ride to win a beginners chase at Thurles but, after jumping superbly, fell two out at the same track when having the race at his mercy. We will try to find another suitable country race for him.

Blackstairmountain
6g Imperial Ballet - Sixhills
Mrs S Ricci
 OR 151h

A Grade 1-winning hurdler as a novice two seasons back, he found it hard last season and failed to win, although he was placed in a Grade 2. He did the job nicely when winning a beginners chase at Clonmel on ground that he hates. He did well to win a Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown but hated the ground when beaten in the Arkle Chase there last time. He is still on course for the Arkle Trophy Chase at Cheltenham.

Blazing Tempo
7m Accordion - Leading Duke
Mrs S Ricci

 By winning the Galway Plate she’s already paid her way this season. She ran well under a big weight when we stepped up to 3m in the Kerry National but disappointed in the 2m4f Grade 2 chase at Down Royal. We took a chance running her again so soon in a mares’ race at Clonmel. It worked out well as she won a dramatic contest. She was almost brought down at the second-last and then the two in front of her came down at the last. She has won over hurdles at Fairyhouse since and will be entered everywhere. She is better on good ground.

Bold Banks
8g Taipan - A Woman’s Heart
Mrs J M Mullins
 
He ran second in a bumper on his only start and finished fourth in a maiden hurdle at Limerick in November. He wouldn’t want the ground very testing and we’ll be trying to win a hurdle race with him.

Boston Bob
6g Bob Back - Bavaway
Andrea & Graham Wylie
He won a point-to-point and a bumper on his second start in England. He is a big chasing type who won his maiden hurdle at Navan before returning there in December to win a grade 1 novice hurdle. He put in a tremendous performance to win at Leopardstown at the end of January and we might give him another run in a staying hurdle before going for either the Neptune of Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.

Boxer Georg
9g Taipan - Country Course
William Murray
 
OR 106c
He ran a blinder and gave Patrick a memorable spin when second in the Fox Hunters at Aintree and will again be going the hunter chase route. Everything will be geared towards trying to go one better at Aintree.

Bowfinger
8g Anshan - Galley Flash
Mrs J M Mullins
 
Another who will be competing in hunter chases. He finished third in one at Clonmel last season but was disqualified as it turned out he wasn’t qualified. We are hoping he will have better luck this season. He won a point-to-point decisively at Boulta at the end of November.

Bundle Of Fun
8g Topanoora - Leaden Sky
Shanakiel Racing Syndicate
 
OR 95c 119h
He’s on a nice mark over fences compared with his hurdles rating, so we are hoping he can make use of that and win a handicap or two. Staying is his game and he seems to have a good jumping method. He went up 5lbs for finishing an unlucky second (met with interference) in a handicap chase at Limerick in November.

Cadspeed
8g Vertical Speed - Cadmina
Carra Ethos Syndicate
 
Showed promise when placed on both starts over fences last season and we are hoping he will build on that bit of experience. He was quite sharp over hurdles so you would think he will be very effective at around 2m.

Call The Police
8g Accordion - Evangelica
E Duignan
 
His form tapered off towards the end of last season, which wasn’t that surprising as he appreciates winter ground. He is a fine, big rangy sort and ran out an impressive winner first time over fences at Gowran. Two and half miles or thereabouts looks like his ideal trip and he will probably now go for the Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown.

Ceol Rua
6m Bob Back - Glens Music
Fiona McStay

 She won her maiden hurdle in good fashion at Fairyhouse in November. She was then a bit disappointing when second at Wexford but ran a blinder when just touched off in a novice hurdle in very heavy ground at Gowran in December. She put in a very gutsy performance, after being passed on the run-in, to win at Fairyhouse and she might go in again in a similar contest. She will improve as the ground dries out.

Champagne Agent
5g Smadoun - Madame Jean
John J Fallon
 
He disappointed us in bumpers last season but was a bit weak and still growing. He has done well and came in almost two inches taller. He was second in a bumper at Thurles but then disappointed when only fourth in a Navan bumper.

Champagne Fever
4g Stowaway - Forever Bubbles
Mrs S Ricci
He won his only point-to-point by ten lengths at Quakerstown and we bought him from Thomond O’Mara. A real chasing type, he was probably beaten by a very good horse in a bumper at Leopardstown at Christmas when the ground was too good for him. A change of tactics and the ground were a big help when he won at Fairyhouse and we will now have to have a serious look at running him in the Cheltenham Bumper.

Clonard Lad
6g Presenting - Furiella
DAFTC Syndicate
 
He won a bumper at the end of the 2009-10 season and hasn’t run since finishing third on his hurdling debut at last year’s Galway festival. He is back in pre-training and, as he appreciates good ground, we are looking at a spring campaign.

Cooldine
9g Beneficial - Shean Alainn
Mrs Violet O’Leary
 
OR 154c
We discovered a few days before he was due to run in the Hennessy in February that he had partial paralysis of his larynx. That might explain his loss of form, so we decided he needed a wind operation. He came back at Thurles where he led until two out before finishing second to Joncol, beaten 12 lengths. He stopped quickly that day and we are hoping it was just a case of needing the run. He should come on for that but he has a long way to go if he is to get back to the form he showed when winning the RSA Chase in 2009 and when losing out narrowly to Joncol in the 2010 Hennessy at Leopardstown. He was a remote third in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown and in the Lexus at Leopardstown and, on that evidence, doesn’t seem to have recaptured his Grade 1 winning form.

Cousin Vinny
8g Bob Back - Trixskin
Festival Syndicate
 
OR 140c 147h
Had to miss all last season due to a setback. He is back in pre-training and we’ll try to get him on the track in the New Year. He was placed a couple of times over fences but ran three times over hurdles at the end of 2009-10 and the intention is to keep him to hurdling this season.

Dare To Doubt
7m King’s Theatre - Karawa
J T Ennis
 She will be hard to place this season but we might try to change tactics with her. She has made the running in most of her races and can be very free. If we can get her to settle and race properly then it should increase her prospects of winning more mares races. Changing tactics worked a treat when she won a handicap hurdle at Punchestown in November. She looked like she didn’t stay when fifth over 3 miles at Leopardstown. She was third in a graded chase on her fencing debut at Thurles and we will try to win a beginners chase with her now.

Darroun
3c Dalakhani - Darayka
Mrs S Ricci
 

He is a French import who won a 1m5f Flat maiden in the provinces before we bought him. He is a fine, big type who should make a chaser one day. He ran a blinder in heavy ground when second last time and improved greatly to win at Leopardstown at the end of January. He might go straight to the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Deutschland
8g Red Ransom - Rhine Valley
Allan McLuckie
 
OR 144c,132h
He’s as versatile as they come and has won over hurdles, fences and on the Flat. We will again be mixing it between hurdles and fences and he appreciates good dig in the ground. He has become a very careful jumper of fences and will be running in handicaps. He had a couple of disappointing runs in November and we might have to reappraise his future shortly.

Drive Time
6g King Cugat - Arbusha
Andrea & Graham Wylie
 
OR 125h
He won both his starts on the Flat for Jim Bolger before twice winning over hurdles in Britain. We will school him over fences with a view to going novice chasing and if that doesn’t work out then he will go back over hurdles.

Dr Machini
4f Dr Massini - Screaming Witness
Alan Potts
 
She shaped well on her debut when second to a smart winner at Wexford last month and followed up by winning easily on ground she wouldn’t like at Fairyhouse.

Equus Maximus
11g Flemensfirth - Sambara
Greenstar Syndicate
 
OR 139c
He made it back for one run at the end of last season when he got brought down at the Punchestown festival. He likes soft and we are toying with the idea of going the hunter-chase route with him this season. He pulled up in a point-to-point in December but we are expecting a lot better from him in the New Year.

Felix Yonger
5g Oscar - Marble Sound
Andrea & Graham Wylie

He ran second for my brother Tony on his Leopardstown debut before being sold to Britain where he won a bumper. He was a bit disappointing when second at Cork on his first run for us but made amends when winning a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in December

Final Approach
5g Pivotal - College Fund Girl
Douglas Taylor
 
OR 143h
We’ll see if he has improved as it won’t be easy for him having won two big handicaps - the MCR and the County - last season. We are considering stepping him up from 2m as we think that might suit. He ran well on his two starts at Auteuil in the early summer - fifth to Thousand Stars in the French Champion Hurdle - and it’s likely he’ll be heading back when the season in Ireland and Britain is over. He ran a great race in the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse and then won easily over 2 miles at Cork. He will go for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and then onto Cheltenham. We think he will continue to improve as the ground dries out.

Flat Out
6g Sagamix - Divine Rodney
Michael A O’Riordan
 
OR 146c
He looked very exciting when winning by 13 lengths first time over fences at Punchestown and was in front when making his exit at the second-last in the Arkle at Leopardstown. Unfortunately, a setback ruled him out for the rest of the season but he has come back very strong and will resume over fences. He’s back in fast work and will be out next month. He might have a run over hurdles first and is a horse with plenty of pace.

Gagewell Flyer
7g Deploy - Drumcay Polly
Clipper Logistics Group Ltd
 
OR 136h
He was working away when he met with a setback which will hold him up for six weeks. He did well over hurdles last season and will be going novice chasing when ready

Gorgeous Sixty
3f Touch Of The Blues - Sixty Six
Mrs S Ricci
 
She had two runs over hurdles, including a win, in France and that experience will be a plus. She also won a 1m4f conditions race at Longchamp and came to us with a big reputation. We hope she’s a lot better than she showed first time out at Gowran but she probably doesn’t handle heavy ground

Hammersmith
8g Turtle Island - Park Belle
George Creighton
 
He ran fifth at Limerick on his first run since winning a Downpatrick bumper by ten lengths in February 2009. Like many Turtle Islands he loves testing going

Hats And Heels
4f Flemensfirth - Great Cullen
Supreme Horse Racing Club
 
Did the job nicely on her debut at Cork, winning a bumper easily. She was a good third in a listed bumper for fillies and mares at Navan in November. She jumped very well when winning her maiden hurdle at Naas and will now go down the novice hurdle route. She stays well.

Click the silks for current form

Hurricane Fly
7g Montjeu (IRE) - Scandisk (Kenmare)

George Creighton
 
He was incredible in the Irish Champion Hurdle. The ground was extremely testing at Leopardstown and it was his first run of the season but he absolutely blew away the opposition. That was probably his best run ever.

He will go straight to Cheltenham now.