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19th November 2020, 10:57 AM
#21
'He's working like a nice horse and we're leaning towards the Paddy Power'
David Pipe spent a week in hospital recently with rib and spleen injuries after being kicked by a horse, but he's on the mend now and very much looking forward to the November meeting at Cheltenham this weekend, which has been targeted successfully by the family for decades.
Pipe, in good form with seven winners in the last fortnight, hopes to be well represented at the meeting once again, including with new recruit Siruh Du Lac in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
He also has plenty to look forward to in the months beyond, although almost inevitably one or two of the stable's big names are sidelined, among them unfortunately Israel Champ.
While he hasn't topped the 100-winner mark since doing so for the sixth time in 2014-15, there were encouraging signs last season, when the stable's 64 winners before Covid-19 prematurely stopped play was a big step back in the right direction.
Race in focus
Haydock's Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle – the Fixed Brush Hurdle as it will always be to us here – is a race I've always liked, having won it with Dynaste, Grands Crus and Gevrey Chambertin. I've entered five this time, including Duc De Beauchene, Kepagge and Main Fact.
Rival to watch
An obvious one, but Envoi Allen was tremendously impressive the other day at Down Royal on his chasing debut and he looks the real deal.
Stable profile
Yard Pond House Stables, Nicholashayne, Wellington, Somerset
Started training 2006
Horses in yard 85
Members of staff 35
Assistant trainers Martin Pipe, Gerry Supple
Head lad Oliver Defew
Barn leaders Martin Ayliffe, Ali Galliers-Pratt
Travelling head lads Craig Wylie, Bob Hodge
Jockeys Tom Scudamore, David Noonan
Conditional Fergus Gillard
Amateurs Martin McIntyre, Sean O’Connor
PAs Gail Harrison, Gemma Edwards, James Smith
Lab Esther Salter (technician), Barry Allen (advisor)
Gallops team Mike Broom
Stable sponsor W & S Recycling
Website davidpipe.com
Twitter @DavidPipeRacing
Winners in Britain
2019-20 64
2018-19 44
2017-18 33
2016-17 59
2015-16 80
Profit/loss to £1 stake
2019-20 +0.60
2018-19 -66.42
2017-18 -113.51
2016-17 -194.09
2015-16 -111.92
Total prize-money 2019-20
£734,090
Adagio
Three-year-old gelding
Wiener Walzer (sire) - Aspidistra (dam)
Owner: Bryan Drew And Friends / Prof C Tisdall
Form figures: 1
Racing Post Rating 114h Official Rating -
There were a lot of claims in for him after he won very easily at Clairefontaine in August, so we were lucky to get him. We gelded him and he schooled nicely before his hurdles debut at Warwick on Friday, when he travelled well and picked up to beat the right horses. He's entered at Cheltenham at the weekend.
Brinkley
5g Martaline - Royale Majesty
Brocade Racing
731-
RPR 131h OR 130h
He ran only once for us last season, putting up a lovely performance at Newbury in February. He's had a wind op since and will probably be out in December. He's a real strong galloper and three miles ought to be fine for him.
Bumpy Johnson
4g Imperial Monarch - Country Flora
Brocade Racing
F-1
RPR 109b
He'd gone nicely at home before running in a bumper at Fontwell last month and won impressively there. He looks a nice youngster and he'll probably go hurdling.
Dell' Arca
11g Sholokov - Daisy Belle
Prof Caroline Tisdall
3-73611
RPR 154h OR 131h
He's an absolute star and has won both starts this season under Fergus Gillard. He'd obviously dropped down the handicap and life will get tougher now. He probably finds hurdles a bit easier than fences and I don't think he wants it too soft as he finds it hard work nowadays.
Duc De Beauchene
7g Saddler Maker - Quatia D'Angron
JP McManus
12/0174-
RPR 131h OR 128h
He was very impressive at Cheltenham last November. He never built on it for some reason, but he's a big, strong, powerful horse who is looking very well and seems in good form. I'd imagine he'll stick to hurdles for now and he's not far off a run.
Eden Du Houx
6g Irish Wells - Maralypha
Prof Caroline Tisdall
24134-0
RPR 133h OR 130h RPR 119c OR 130c
He did very well in bumpers but didn't do quite as well as we hoped in novice hurdles. He started over fences at Uttoxeter and jumped very nicely before finishing tired. Scu [Tom Scudamore] thought he was very professional.
First Lord De Cuet
6g Lord Du Sud - Alyce
Potter, Pipe and Pete
/4120-32
RPR 128h OR 126
It looked like he came to win his race at Sandown on Sunday but he knuckled on landing two out and the winner maybe got first run on him. We may try cheekpieces next time. I hope there's a nice race in him.
Dark horse
Gericault Roque
4g Montmartre - Nijinska Delaroque
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
4-2
RPR 102b
He ran with a lot of promise when second on his first run for us in a bumper at Newton Abbot last month, staying on strongly. He's had a wind op since then and could go hurdling now.
Induno
6g Flemensfirth - Vast Consumption
RA Bartlett
2/113-
RPR 121h OR 115h
He's had a nice long break since Boxing Day, when he wasn't right, and he's entered at Cheltenham this weekend. He's a good work horse and I think he's on a workable mark. He's quite versatile ground-wise.
Kepagge
6 g Getaway - Miracle Lady
Mrs Sarah Ling
F/111-
RPR 135h OR 137h
He won a bumper and his two novice hurdles last season, although he did his best to get himself beaten at Leicester at 2-9 when he lost his confidence. He's a lovely big, strong horse and may go chasing before long, but he'll start over hurdles at Cheltenham or Haydock.
Ladykiller
4g Kamsin - Lady Jacamira
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
3
RPR 106h
He had decent form on the Flat in Germany and he jumped well and travelled well at Southwell on his hurdling debut before finding little. He works very nicely, so hopefully it was just his wind, which has since been attended to.
Leoncavallo
8g Cape Cross - Nafura
ValueRacingClub.co.uk
05/824-1
RPR 147h 147c OR 143h 142c
A really tough and versatile character who is effective on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences. He ran another terrific race in the Cesarewitch last time. He's having a break now but will be ready to run again in February or March.
Maggies Mogul
4f Valirann - Grangeclare Gold
The Angove Family
1-4
RPR 94b
She won her only point-to-point in Ireland and made her bumper debut at Ffos Las, where we were probably too forceful on her. She's a nice mare with a good attitude and better than she showed there.
Star quality
Main Fact
7g Blame - Reflections
Munrowd's Partnership
/311111-
RPR 150h OR 147h
He did fantastically well over hurdles last season and when he came back from a break he was potentially very well treated on the Flat, although it doesn't always work out. We got lucky with the weather, as soft ground is very important to him because of the way he races, and he won three times in 12 days to make it eight straight wins overall since January. He'll now go hurdling again and it will obviously be harder now. He does take a lot of getting cherry-ripe as he's quite a burly horse. He's entered in the Greatwood but it would need to be soft over two miles. He's also in at Haydock next week over three miles, which is unknown territory, but it's an easy track and he runs as though he'll stay.
Make Me A Believer
5g Presenting - Kiltiernan Robin
Prof C Tidsall & Jane Gerard-Pearse
F/1-2
RPR 113b RPR 113h
He put up a good effort in winning a bumper at Chepstow last October but picked up an injury and then Covid intervened. He ran a very nice race over hurdles at Lingfield on his return when he was only beaten by a very good horse in Bear Ghylls and he's had a wind op since then. He's got loads of ability and will make a lovely three-mile chaser one day.
Martinhal
5g Westerner - Gweedara
Mrs Lynne Maclennan
F1-44
RPR 123b RPR 109h
He put up a nice performance when winning a bumper at Huntingdon last season but hasn't finished off either of his races over hurdles this season, which is frustrating. He'll probably go for a wind op now. I'm sure there's more to come from him.
Meep Meep Mag
6m Getaway - Deadly Pursuit
M Lambert & Mrs R White
31321-
RPR 108b
She picked up an injury when winning her bumper at Sedgefield and hasn't run since, but she's getting there now and will be going novice hurdling. She's got a great attitude.
New Age Dawning
6g Stowaway - Captain Supreme
Brocade Racing
2/121/
RPR 130h OR 133h
He won a bumper and a novice hurdle two seasons ago but suffered a leg injury and missed last season. He's probably a month or so off a run but if he stays in one piece he'll make a lovely three-mile chaser.
Night Edition
4g Authorized - Night Serenade
Stuart & Simon Mercer & John Gent
4212-
RPR 132h OR 135h
He did well as a juvenile and ended with a good second at Cheltenham in the Boodles. He's not overbig, but he's grown a bit during his break so hopefully there's more to come. He'll be aimed at some of the big handicap hurdles and could start at Ascot before Christmas.
Panic Attack
4f Canford Cliffs - Toto Corde Meo
Bryan Drew
10-21
RPR 115h OR 119h
She ran well against a good mare until tiring at Huntingdon on her hurdling debut, and then we dropped her back in trip and rode her more forcefully when she won at Uttoxeter. She's hopefully on a workable mark and is entered for the novice handicap at Cheltenham on Friday.
Ramses De Teillee
8 g Martaline - Princesse D'Orton
John White & Anne Underhill
/14110-5
RPR 150h OR 149h RPR 158c OR 149c
He's been a great horse for us and it's hard to believe he's only eight. He's going to be harder to place this season but he ran a decent race at Auteuil last month and could go to Cheltenham at the weekend if it's soft enough. After that it will be the Becher and the Welsh National, and he has options over hurdles again.
Remastered
7g Network - Cathodine Cayras
Brocade Racing
52P33-1
RPR 134h OR 132h RPR 137c OR 132c
He's a real galloper who was always going to be a better chaser than a hurdler. He made a great start over fences in what looked a tricky little novice at Carlisle on Monday as he jumped extremely well and battled back when headed. He goes well fresh, but he'll hopefully back it up and is the sort who might end up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. He needs the cheekpieces just to help him out in the later stages.
Siruh Du Lac
7g Turgeon - Margerie
/1111/PF-
John White & Anne Underhill
RPR 154c OR 150c
His form is all in the book and anyone can see he's a very good horse and a lovely addition to the stable. He had a horrible fall at Cheltenham and came to us not long afterwards, so he's had a long summer break. He's got to improve to win off his mark, but he's working like a nice horse and we're leaning towards the Paddy Power. I'm sure he'll be trying three miles at some stage this season as he gives the impression he's an out-and-out galloper.
Thinking
5g So You Think - Laetoli
Nick Shutts
1/
OR 132h
He won his only hurdle race in France two years ago but hasn't run since, although he was ready just before lockdown started. He's a big, strong individual and a real galloper who will get two and a half miles. He's in the Greatwood but would need soft ground.
Umbrigado
6g Stowaway - Dame O'Neill
John White & Anne Underhill
116/560-
RPR 141h OR 139h
He had a slightly frustrating time last season, but he ran well at Haydock, then wasn't quick enough for two miles next time, and finally wasn't beaten far in my dad's race at Cheltenham. He's a strong traveller who has plenty of ability. He'll probably be sticking to hurdles.
Vieux Lion Rouge
11g Sabiango - Indecise
Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent
0/1997-5
RPR 141h OR132h RPR 160c OR 140c
He's been a great horse for the yard, running in four Nationals and four Becher Chases. He's had a blowout in a veterans' chase and he's now going back to Aintree again for the Becher, which he won in 2016. He's not getting any younger, but he looks a million dollars and is back down to a workable mark again.
Bumper horses
We did well with our bumper horses last season and we've had a nice winner already in Bumpy Johnson. Hopefully there are some more winners to come and worth mentioning at this stage are the four-year-olds Astigar, who is by No Risk at All and came to us from Colin Bowe, and Barrier Peaks, who came from Sam Curling and is a little further away from a run. I also like a nice unnamed Shirocco four-year-old, who came from Tony Costello and is a bit backward still, and a three-year-old by Kapgarde who was bought privately by Tom Malone and looks promising.
Two for the tracker
Gericault Roque should pay his way this season, probably over hurdles. New Age Dawning picked up a leg injury but is doing lots of work and should be worth following over hurdles or fences.
Expert view
The yard has some very interesting horses entered at Cheltenham this week, including Kepagge and Thinking.
Kepagge looks set to go handicapping after just two small-field novice successes so is a complete unknown. His entries include the 3m and 2m5f handicap hurdles on Saturday and the former is a race Pipe won with Grands Crus, who went on to land the Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock before running second to Big Buck's in the Stayers' Hurdle.
He is definitely one to keep an eye on, as is Thinking, who thrashed the now 124-rated chaser Yccs Portocervo in a hurdle in France in 2018 and has not been seen since. He's entered in the Greatwood, a race Pipe took with stable stalwart Dell' Arca seven years ago on his first run in Britain.
Two chasers to definitely keep an eye out for are Remastered and
Eden Du Houx.
Remastered may need the cheekpieces to keep him up to his work, but he looked very professional when off the mark at Carlisle on Monday and he was beating a pair who were rated considerably higher than him over hurdles. There is a decent staying pot in him sometime in the future.
Eden Du Houx is a horse I've always liked so it is pleasing to hear that it was just a case of getting tired first time out when he was well beaten at Uttoxeter last month.
He ran a couple of excellent races in big-field handicap hurdles in open company as a novice last season, finishing third at Ascot and fourth to McFabulous at Kempton, and I'm sure at some point he will leave a mark of 130 well behind.
Paul Kealy
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19th November 2020, 11:26 AM
#22
'He didn't run at all last year but he's a very exciting chaser'
There may be more quantity in Jessica Harrington's Flat artillery, but don't underestimate the quality that rests in her jumping battalion.
The 2020-21 campaign promises to be a fruitful one for the Commonstown team as they go to war with a squad of roughly 50 National Hunt performers, boasting a mix of proven Graded operators and up-and-coming youngsters.
The prolific Magic Of Light is back and apparently better than ever as she builds towards her bid to go one better than her second in the 2019 Randox Health Grand National.
Three-time Grade 1 winner Supasundae also returns to the fray and will aim to collect another top-level hurdling prize this term, while the fellow Potts-owned Sizing Pottsie and promising hurdler Jungle Junction have the potential to make their presence felt in high-quality events.
The impressive victories for Crosshill and Ever Present, who provided Harrington with a Punchestown double last Wednesday, could be a sign of things to come with the younger brigade of potential stars coming through.
Stable facts
Yard Commonstown Stud
Where Moone, County Kildare
Started training 1989
National Hunt horses in yard 50
Assistant trainer/head groom Eamonn Leigh
Assistant trainer Kate Harrington
Travelling head groom Niall Amond
Assistant travelling head Esme Cooke
Yard managers Nigel Byrne, Matt Crosse, Adrien Bolger, Martina Kearns, Rory Nolan
Jockeys Robbie Power, Paddy Kennedy, Sean O'Keeffe, Finny Maguire, Cian Cullinan, Mikey McGuane
Secretaries Sue Wilson, Sean Crowe, Ally Couchman
Office managers Emma Galway, Richie Galway
Twitter @Jessica_Racing
Winners over jumps in Ireland
2019-20 25
2018-19 47
2017-18 38
2016-17 48
Profit/loss to €1 stake
2019-20 -€131.08
2018-19 -€24.39
2017-18 -€211.75
2016-17 -€121.84
Total prize-money 2019-20
€491,073
Ashdale Bob
Five-year-old gelding
Shantou (sire) - Ceol Rua (dam)
Owner: Diarmuid Horgan
Form figures: 435-
Racing Post Rating: 129 (hurdles); Official rating -
He's a lovely horse who had a couple of very good runs on his first two starts before things went against him. I think he's got a lot stronger this year.
Crosshill
5g Sholokhov - Rathvawn Belle
R A Bartlett
9-1
RPR 133h
He won really nicely at Punchestown on his first start over hurdles, which was great to see. I know it was a very strong bumper that he ran in on his debut at Fairyhouse but I was disappointed because I thought he'd win that day. Hopefully he'll end up in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham come the end of the season.
Star quality
Discordantly
6g Salutino - Collinstown Queen
The Oddfellows Partnership
F5F14-1
RPR 146c OR 142c
He went up 10lb for winning at Galway the other day and his aim is the Irish Grand National. The softer the ground the better for him – he's a brilliant jumper and keeps galloping. We'll look towards races like the Troytown and the Paddy Power.
Emily Moon
6m Beneficial - Wood Lily
Mrs P Myerscough
56413-3
RPR 134h 134c OR 129h
It was great for her to some black type over hurdles last time, having got some over fences at Thurles last season. The plan is for her to go to Bangor for a Listed mares' chase [on November 11] and Robbie [Power] will be able to ride her.
Ever Present
4g Elusive Pimpernel - Persian Memories
Anamoine Limited
1
RPR 107b
I was delighted with how he won at Punchestown last week. He's bred by Mrs Patino and could have run on the Flat last year but we can look towards a winners' bumper for him. He's an exciting horse who we've always loved.
Exit Polll
Star quality
Discordantly
6g Salutino - Collinstown Queen
The Oddfellows Partnership
F5F14-1
RPR 146c OR 142c
He went up 10lb for winning at Galway the other day and his aim is the Irish Grand National. The softer the ground the better for him – he's a brilliant jumper and keeps galloping. We'll look towards races like the Troytown and the Paddy Power.
Emily Moon
6m Beneficial - Wood Lily
Mrs P Myerscough
56413-3
RPR 134h 134c OR 129h
It was great for her to some black type over hurdles last time, having got some over fences at Thurles last season. The plan is for her to go to Bangor for a Listed mares' chase [on November 11] and Robbie [Power] will be able to ride her.
Ever Present
4g Elusive Pimpernel - Persian Memories
Anamoine Limited
1
RPR 107b
I was delighted with how he won at Punchestown last week. He's bred by Mrs Patino and could have run on the Flat last year but we can look towards a winners' bumper for him. He's an exciting horse who we've always loved.
Impact Factor
8g Flemensfirth - Hello Kitty
Robcour
22251/2-
RPR 144c OR 143c
He's a very exciting chaser. He didn't run at all last year but he's got some smart form. Running over two miles on soft ground, or two and a half on better ground, suits him well.
Instant Return
4g Elzaam - Instant Memories
Brian Miller
432112-
RPR 122h OR 126h
He's hardy and will be back on soft ground in handicap company this season. He's by Elzaam but I think he'll be able to step up to two and a half miles, maybe even three.
Jett
9g Flemensfirth - La Noire
Robert Waley-Cohen
1264-P7
RPR 163 OR 154
I was really happy with his comeback at Punchestown in the race he won last year. He was giving away plenty of weight and got passed but he came again, to his credit. He'll go for the Becher Chase next and Sam Waley-Cohen will ride him.
Jungle Junction
5g Elusive Pimpernel - Consignia
Mrs A Frost
222214-
RPR 135h OR 133h
His form from last season looks strong and he's only a five-year-old so we'll stay over hurdles this season. He's done very well over the summer and I'd imagine his aim could be the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. He's a very nice horse.
Dark horse
Lifetime Ambition
5g Kapgarde - Jeanquiri
Linda Mulcahy & Mary Wolridge
2144-
RPR 103b
I think this is a lovely horse. He goes hurdling and jumps very well. I'm very happy with how he's done over the summer.
Lynwood Gold
5g Mastercraftsman - Witch Of Fife
C Acheson
421-2
RPR 134h
We're going to look towards a Pertemps qualifier with him in England in January. He stays well and the Pertemps Final or Coral Cup will be his aim. He had a very good run in the Cesarewitch last time and has gone well over hurdles already.
Magic Of Light
9m Flemensfirth - Quest Of Passion
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
72/3118-
RPR 162c 150h OR 158c 149h
She seems to be better than ever at the moment. We'll probably go for her usual routine of the Lismullen Hurdle, then over to Newbury for the Listed mares' chase in December and on to Ascot again for the Grade 2 hurdle in January, with her aim being the Grand National. Naturally, it was disappointing not to be able to go to Aintree with her last year but she's come back in great form.
Morosini
5g Martaline - Iris Du Berlais
John P McManus
35217-P
RPR 144h OR 137h
He's a grand horse who ran over fences last time at Punchestown but may stay over hurdles. I think he'll go over two and a half miles and this year he looks stronger and better than before – he could even go three miles. He enjoys soft ground.
Mr Hendricks
6g Milan - Coming Home
Exors of the Late David Reid Scott
1/061F7-
RPR 127h
We're looking forward to seeing him over fences. I think he'll enjoy going a trip. He won his maiden hurdle nicely last season and is a very nice horse.
Neverushacon
9g Echo Of Light - Lily Beth
Exors of the Late David Reid Scott
825318-
RPR 146c OR 138c
He'll go for all the banks races again after having a great time of things last year. I think he could run a very big race in the Cross Country at Cheltenham if it came up good – he needs good ground.
Not Many Left
7g Oscar - Lasado
Robcour
2/4132/F-
RPR 153h OR 148h
He missed the whole of last season. We're going to keep him over hurdles. He's a very smart horse and stays three miles so hopefully he can have a good season.
Only Human
7g Invincible Spirit - Liscune
Michael Cooke
3-2
RPR 123h
He's on a break at the moment after running on the Flat during the summer. He'll be back in the spring and will go hurdling.
Polished Steel
6g Jeremy - Chaperoned
J P O'Flaherty
3-1142P
RPR 145c OR 137c
He's been brilliant for us this season and has really improved for going over fences. The ground was too soft for him on Sunday at Cork and we'll give him a mini-break with a view to running him at Leopardstown over Christmas. Hopefully the ground won't be too soft for him then.
Port Stanley
6g Papal Bull - Prairie Moonlight
Linda Mulcahy & Mary Wolridge
2/53321-
RPR 127h OR 125h
He's got some good form over hurdles and I can't wait for him to go chasing. He schooled really well at the Curragh the other day.
Rapid response
6m Network - La Grande Villez
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
221225
RPR 136c OR 133c
She's a lovely mare who's been very consistent. I think she's improving all the time and could make into a lovely staying chaser. She ran a nice race on Sunday at Cork but the ground was a little too testing for her. We'll give her a bit of a mini-break now and hopefully pick up some black type later in the season.
Silver Sheen
6g Sulamani - Silver Gypsy
J Turner
P64111-
RPR 138h OR 133h
He has the option of either going for the Pertemps or heading over fences. We were really disappointed he picked up a setback that meant he missed Cheltenham last season because he looked to have a real chance but we're happy with him now.
Sizing Pottsie
6g Kapgarde - Line Salsa
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
3U11F-5
RPR 154c OR 149c
We stepped him up to 2m3½f at the weekend but he didn't quite see it out. Robert [Power] says he's an out and out two-miler on soft ground. He'll go for the Poplar Square Chase at Naas at the end of the month. He's an exciting horse.
Still Standing
5g Mastercraftsman - Il Palazzo
The Three D Partnership
04-26
RPR 116h
He had a good run back over hurdles at Gowran the other day when he was just touched off before running too keen at Down Royal when he didn't see out the trip. It was the wrong way to ride him and we'll look for a handicap with him now. He doesn't want extremes in terms of ground and two miles is fine for him.
Supasundae
10g Galileo - Distinctive Look
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
271/247-
RPR 165h OR 154h
He's in great form and we're looking at the Lismullen Hurdle for him. He's also entered in the Morgiana Hurdle and will probably run in all those good Graded hurdles this season. If he's no good I'll threaten him with going chasing to do a Faugheen!
Wingin A Prayer
5g Winged Love - Toubliss
Rainbow Gems Syndicate
3F371-F
RPR 127h OR 122h
It was disappointing that he fell last time at Punchestown because I was expecting a very big run from him, but he just picked up too far away due to a shadow. He's a nice horse going forward and will jump a fence in time but there's no hurry.
Young talent
We've got some lovely young horses to look forward to over the coming months. Autumn Evening (3g Tamayuz - Martagon Lily) had a good run on the Flat at Navan and will go hurdling, having schooled well. Boola Boola (3g Invincible Spirit - We Can Say It Now) is an enormous horse who'll wait for a four-year-old bumper. There's also a lovely Martaline three-year-old out of Beau Bridget bred by the Potts family who will run in a bumper next year. We have a nice homebred filly by Shantou out of Madam Des Champs.
Fame and Joy 4f Fame And Glory - Coonagh Cross) has been running well in bumpers and hopefully she should be up to winning one this season. She's been a bit green, as was What Next (5m Scorpion - Espresso Lady), who's a half-sister to Sensulano and made her debut at Galway recently. Daisy Dufresne (4f Doyen - Daytona Lily), a sister to Andy Dufresne, is very nice too. She isn't overly big and will go for a bumper.
Mighty Meggsie (4f Arakan - Angel Lopez) was second on her first two bumper starts before getting bogged down on soft ground at Galway and she could go hurdling. California Breeze (4f Shirocco - Taraval) is a lovely big filly who looks like a three-mile chaser. Edison Kent (4g Leading Light - Kentish Town) hasn't run yet but is a nice unraced four-year-old we're looking forward to and Annie Kate (5m Califet - Spartan Girl) is also looking much stronger this year.
Two for the tracker
Daisy Dufresne is a filly we're looking forward to running in a bumper and I think Ilmig is a smart horse who hopefully can do well over hurdles.
Expert view
Almost every top prize in jump racing has been won by Jessica Harrington over the years, with the Grand National being one of the few races missing from her CV.
I get the feeling that no stone will be left unturned in a bid to enable Magic Of Light to go one better this time after her narrow defeat by Tiger Roll in 2019. The early vibes are good.
Multiple Grade 1-winning veteran Supasundae returns for another Grade 1 campaign which looks likely to start off in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.
Discordantly is certainly one to watch. Impressive at Galway last month, he looks likely to be a factor in the good staying handicap chases, beginning with the Troytown at Navan.
The trainer has never been shy in her opinion of Sizing Pottsie. He was too free and possibly needed the run at Down Royal on Saturday and there should be much better to come.
Among the younger brigade, there are high hopes that impressive Punchestown maiden hurdle winner Crosshill could make the grade as a staying novice hurdler, with the Albert Bartlett as a long-term target.
Potentially, no horse in the yard is more exciting than Ever Present, who delivered nicely for an inexperienced young rider in a Punchestown bumper.
Flat racing may be king at Commonstown at the moment and the string of jumpers may be smaller than in recent years, but they will hold their own.
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20th November 2020, 3:16 AM
#23
Senior Member
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luckyme (20th November 2020)
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23rd November 2020, 10:52 AM
#24
ENDA BOLGER
Ballyoisin
9g Presenting - Regal Force
John P McManus
5/15612-
RPR 169c OR 167c
Unfortunately he won't be back until at least the spring. He's had surgery on his knee and is recovering at Martinstown. He's a real good-ground horse and we won't be doing anything with him until January 1 but hopefully he'll be able to get back for the likes of Punchestown and Killarney next year.
MARTIN BRASSIL
City Island
7g Court Cave - Victorine
Sean & Bernardine Mulryan
11/6P2P-
RPR 155h OR 153
He's back in training with us after a long break and the plan is for him to stay over hurdles this season. We hope he might be able to run around Christmas and I'd imagine he'll probably stick to the three-mile division. He never really got his ground over fences last season and hopefully everything can go well for him this time around.
Longhouse Poet
6g Yeats - Moscow Madame
Sean & Bernardine Mulryan
1338-62
RPR 147h 138c OR 146h
He improved for his first run over fences at Punchestown when second at Naas. It's a different discipline for him to get the hang of and there are some very strong novice chasers around at the moment. He showed some good form last season so hopefully he can have another good year.
CHRIS GORDON
Annual Invictus
5g Mahler - Shantou Rose
Thomas Michael Smith
P/125-2
RPR 124h
He's a point-to-point winner and bumper second who strengthened up a lot over the summer and was beaten by a very nice horse of Nicky Henderson's in Captain Morgs at Ascot on his hurdling debut. That was a really solid run – his best yet – and he'll now head to Lingfield on Thursday.
Highway One O Two
5g Shirocco - Supreme Dreamer
Anthony Ward-Thomas
24111-F
RPR 143h OR 146h
He was a Grade 2 novice hurdle winner at Kempton last season and now it's a matter of getting him back on track after Ffos Las, where he came up against an absolute beast in Hitman on his first start over fences and raced very, very keenly in dreadful ground until taking a soft fall when exhausted. I'm looking at a beginners' chase at Carlisle at the weekend and I haven't lost faith in him at all.
Lord Baddesley
5g Doyen - Tropical Ocean
Richard & Mrs Carol Cheshire
25-12
RPR 103b 125h
He was beaten at Fontwell last weekend but I'd like to think he's a much better horse than that. He was conceding a penalty to a very nice horse of Colin Tizzard's and didn't run at all badly, but he didn't look the same horse in that testing ground. We've had a few here by Doyen, and although they have the knee action they don't seem to like it too soft. We'll look for a similar race on better ground, but I'm minding him this season as he's a chaser in the making.
WARREN GREATREX
Emitom
6g Gold Well - Avenging Angel
The Spero Partnership Ltd
2/614-23
RPR 140c 157h OR 147c 155h
He was obviously a high-class staying hurdler and he's now run twice over fences, running well the first time at Uttoxeter and then a bit flat just two weeks later at Ffos Las. We freshened him up after that and he got a bit tired when he worked at Newbury last Tuesday, but he'll come on a lot for that and we'll look for a nice novice or beginners' chase to get his confidence back. He's still very much one to look forward to.
Mahlervous
7g Mahler - Brook Style
The Marvellous Partnership
51/23-92
RPR 136c OR 131c
He was placed on both his starts over fences last season and showed he'd come on for his reappearance when finishing a very good second at Sandown behind Sevarano, who is highly rated by Oliver Sherwood. He tends to get better as the season goes on and I think he's going places. A long-term target would be the novice handicap at Ayr in April because of his owners, but he might be better than that by then.
ANTHONY HONEYBALL
Kid Commando
6g Robin Des Champs - Banjaxed Girl
Chapman, Hanger, Kingston & Langford
2513-16
RPR 142h OR 143h
He's like a younger version of Regal Encore. He wants to please and would gallop through a brick wall for you, so that has to be nurtured to make sure he's not over-racing. He was able to win a nice race at Ascot over two miles but really wants two and a half miles and soft or heavy ground, but he didn't give his running for some reason when he got that at Haydock on Saturday. Perhaps it came too soon, or maybe it was the big weight, but we might now look at something like the National Spirit at Fontwell and work back from there. He's a cracking horse who jumps like a stag and will be interesting over fences one day, but there's so much to do over hurdles first this season.
Sam Brown
8g Black Sam Bellamy - Cream Cracker
T C Frost
41/11P-3
RPR 158c OR 152c
We are hoping to run in the Ladbrokes Trophy, and I think he's got enough quality. The track and trip will suit but he wouldn't want it drying out too much and a bit of rain later in the week would help. He's still inexperienced over fences, but his jumping at Carlisle on his reappearance was good enough to suggest there's a good chance it will be up to scratch at Newbury, and he came out of the race really well. We've got the Welsh National as a back up, but I don't think he'd be doing both races unless he had a bit of bad luck at Newbury.
Sully D'Oc AA
6g Konig Turf - Samarra D'Oc
John P McManus
P/6256-1
RPR 140c OR 135c
It's possible the Ascot handicap he won was his Gold Cup, but I still think there's more to come from him as he's still learning his trade a bit. He's got a choice of entries at Newbury on Friday, but he'll almost certainly go for the two-and-a-half mile open handicap. He'll improve as he steps up in trip and he's still a novice.
TOM LACEY
Adrimel
5g Tirwanako - Irise De Gene
Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford
1/110-1
RPR 131b 122h
He won his novice at Sandown first time out over hurdles and we'll look for another nice opportunity for him with a view to going back there for the Tolworth. I think a lot of him and if he got soft or heavy ground at Sandown in January I think he'd take a bit of whacking. He's going to be better up in trip in due course and he's a going to be a chaser one day.
Kimberlite Candy
8g Flemensfirth - Mandys Native
John P McManus
935P/21-
RPR 160c OR 153c
He's going back to Aintree a week on Saturday for another crack at the Becher, in which he was second to Walk In The Mill last season before his good win at Warwick. He's a lot higher in the handicap now, but in this last week or two he's really come alive. Every year he seems to come back from his summer break bigger and stronger, and he's in a good place right now.
Sebastopol
6g Fame And Glory - Knockcroghery
C Boultbee-Brooks
1/43/141-
RPR 141h OR 142h
He might go to Newbury for the Gerry Feilden, which is an intermediate hurdle. He's ground-dependent and wants nice ground, but Newbury seems to take any amount of rain from what I can see. He's been slow mentally as much as physically, and I still don't think he's got the hang of racing, so there's potentially a nice race in him.
EMMA LAVELLE
Doc Penfro
8g Dr Massini - Prescelli
Doc Redemption
0/2/412-2
RPR 140c 136h OR 136c 136h
I was delighted with his second to The Big Breakaway at Cheltenham. He was obviously beaten by a very good horse, but they didn't really go quick enough for him and he was a little bit keen. He's had issues with his knees, so has to have soft ground, but he's come back fine and should make a pretty good handicap chaser if we can keep the wheels on.
Hoi Polloi
5g Shantou - Backtothekingsnest
Nicholas Mustoe
1-
RPR 111b
He's a lovely young horse and the form of last season's impressive bumper win at Kempton has been franked several times. He has several entries and is ready to make his hurdling debut any day, possibly at Hereford on Wednesday. He should go places.
Killer Clown
6g Getaway - Our Soiree
Tim Syder
2553-U6
RPR 110c 121h OR 124c 124h
We haven't got it quite right with him yet this season in that he got knocked over at the second on his first start over fences and then at Exeter he jumped brilliantly but found the trip just too far and didn't get home. He should be quite an exciting novice this season.
Paisley Park
8g Oscar - Presenting Shares
Andrew Gemmell
111/117-
RPR 172h OR 167h
I was delighted with his racecourse gallop at Newbury last week and the heart issue he had at Cheltenham hasn't given either him or us any concern since, so we're looking forward to going back to Newbury at the weekend for the Long Distance Hurdle. We hope he can get back to where he was and start the season off in the same fashion as last year. He seems really well in himself and we hope what happened at Cheltenham was just a one-off.
JOHN McCONNELL
Alatar
Derek Kierans
3g Ruler Of The World - Aliyfa
Unraced
He's a nice horse who won a maiden for Michael Halford and the plan is to go juvenile hurdling with him this winter. We think he's a nice recruit.
Anna Bunina
4f Poet's Voice - Russian Society
Ms Caroline Ahearn
U11247
RPR 134h OR 131h
We have one eye on the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham for her. She's at her best on spring ground and that would look the right race to aim her at.
Streets of Doyen
6g Doyen - Satco Street
Ms Caroline Ahearn
U31111
RPR 136h OR 135h
He's gone from strength to strength, winning his last four races for us, each win more impressive than the last. If he keeps on improving, he could be an Albert Bartlett horse.
Go Another One
8g Stowaway - Missusan
Ms Caroline Ahearn
F-11433
RPR 157h OR 145h RPR 151c OR 139c
He's a real stable star. We've given him a break and the plan will be to freshen him up for the spring. He's versatile and will have the option of running in a big handicap over hurdles or fences.
DERMOT McLOUGHLIN
Captain Cj
9g Westerner - She's So Dainty
Mrs Fidelma Toole
23F21-P
RPR 151c OR 143c
He had a good season last year but was disappointing on his comeback at Cork – Conor [Maxwell] said he was never comfortable. Hopefully he'll be able to leave that run behind. He'll have the option of the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse next.
NEIL MULHOLLAND
Any News
5g Stowaway - Kisskiss Bang Bang
Jane Nuala Cartwright
F-11
RPR 123b 134h
He won his bumper in good style on quick enough ground and we were very happy with the way he won his novice too, which was on soft or almost heavy ground. We'll probably look to give him another run in a normal novice and then hopefully step him up in grade. I suspect he ideally wants proper nice ground and he might go to Doncaster next month. He's a big horse whose future lies over fences. He jumps well and is very professional.
Lord Accord
5g Yeats - Cush Jewel
Lynne & Angus Maclennan
3-11U
RPR 98b 119h
He was a bit unfortunate to unseat early on at Fontwell last time, where the race was won by a horse he'd had back in third when winning his maiden hurdle there the previous month. That race has worked out well, with the runner-up winning since as well, and I suspect he'd have taken a bit of whacking if he'd stood up, although the ground may have been soft enough for him. We'll probably look to freshen him up a bit over Christmas and then look for some better ground. He'll stay hurdling this season.
Milkwood
6g Dylan Thomas - Tropical Lake
Ms J Bridel
1/132-14
RPR 142h OR 140h
He won on the bridle at Ffos Las and then ran a cracker there in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. He's still a big baby, so I wasn't keen to run him up that steep hill in the Greatwood after the ground changed, especially when there's a race like the Gerry Feilden at Newbury around the corner. That's where he'll probably go, and he'd tick all of the boxes on a nice flat track. Later on he might be the type for the Betfair Hurdle or something like that.
JEDD O'KEEFFE
Miah Grace
5m Malinas - Silver Gypsy
Caron & Paul Chapman
2131-62
RPR 140h OR 137h
We really like her. We're hoping to go chasing with her next season, but in the meantime we want to see how far she can rise up the ranks over hurdles. I was absolutely thrilled with her first run over two and a half miles at Wetherby, where she was only beaten by a decent horse and they pulled miles clear of the third and the fourth. It was definitely a lifetime best, and she's still improving.
Mr Scrumpy
6g Passing Glance - Apple Days
H Posner
12F1-10
RPR 131h OR 131h
He won on his reappearance at Wetherby over three miles and then went to Aintree with a view to qualifying him for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, but he flopped there and I don't know why. I wouldn't give up on him, as we really like him, and we might still try to qualify him for the Pertemps before going chasing next season.
Sam Spinner
8g Black Sam Bellamy - Dawn Spinner
Caron & Paul Chapman
28/111-P
RPR 157c 165h OR 157c 162h
He's in a bit of no man's land at the moment, but we've decided to go back to hurdles for the time being, although there will be no easy races for him. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him physically after the Charlie Hall, but he just didn't jump with any confidence, so he's going to go to Newbury for the Long Distance Hurdle and we'll see where we are. I can't offer any long-term plans, but we haven't ruled out going back over fences.
GEAROID O'LOUGHLIN
Cedarwood Road
5g Stowaway - Valleyboggan
C Jones
9611-
RPR 143h OR 145h
He did very well for us last year and we always hoped he would develop into a nice chaser. I’d say Leopardstown at Christmas will be on his agenda now.
Coeur Sublime
5g Elusive Pimpernel - Love Knot
C Jones
23/130-4
RPR 156h OR 152h
I was happy with him in the Morgiana – you'd have to be happy. I didn't really have a handle on where I was with him because nothing could go with him at home. There is definitely more to come. The Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas is next on the agenda and he will definitely improve. He came out of Punchestown surprisingly well.
Mitchouka
6g Creachadoir - Minnaloushe
C Jones
07136-3
RPR 141c OR 136c
I was actually pleased enough with how he ran behind Annamix at Gowran Park on Friday. He stayed on quite well and I think we might try him over three miles at some stage.
BEN PAULING
Global Citizen
8g Alkaadhem - Lady Wilmurt
The Megsons
17/414-P
RPR 159c OR 151c
He wasn't himself in the Haldon Gold Cup and I suspect it was the different tactics, which didn't work for him at all as he's so flamboyant and enthusiastic. He seems well at home and did a lovely piece of work at Newbury last week, so back over two miles at the top of the handicap in the 0-150 at Newbury this week I think he'll be quite dangerous again.
Kildisart
8g Dubai Destination - Princess Mairead
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
36652-3
RPR 159c 147h OR 155c 149h
He came back from his prep run over hurdles at Wetherby in fabulous form and he's in great old order. He seems to be improving with age and heads to Newbury on Saturday for the Ladbrokes Trophy, which is his first big target. He was in the Grand National this year, and I'm sure he'll have another entry, but Newbury will tell us an awful lot and if he's competitive, or wins, off 155 he'll put himself in some better races. From what we're seeing at home he's improving.
Le Breuil
8g Anzillero - Slew Dancer
Mrs Emma Palmer
1/P750-4
RPR 151c OR 141c
Last season was very much a question of putting the wheels back on after his win in the National Hunt Chase. That race took a lot out of him, as it was bound to, but he's looking much more like his old self again now. He always needs his first run and I couldn't have been happier with him at Kelso, where he took an almighty blow jumping the cross fence and then sprinted up the run-in when he had his second wind. He's heading back to Aintree for the Becher, in which he jumped so impressively last season but just faded from the Melling Road. He's in a much better place now, and he's 9lb lower, so he'll go there with a big chance.
Shakem Up'Arry
6g Flemensfirth - Nun Better
Harry Redknapp
/F220-14
RPR 129h OR 130h
Having been second last season to Mister Coffey and Shishkin at Newbury, he won as he was entitled to at Ffos Las on his reappearance, when he looked very good. He stepped up in trip in a hot handicap at Haydock on Saturday and ran very well in fourth, just keeping on at the same pace from the back of the second last after being fairly free early on. I don't know where he'll go now, but it will be back in novice company.
NICKY RICHARDS
Ribble Valley
7g Westerner - Miss Greinton
David Wesley Yates
61/112-1
RPR 147h OR 147h
He didn't settle when he went to Ascot last season but at Carlisle on his reappearance it all went brilliantly and he did just what we hoped he'd do, settling well and coming through to win nicely. He'll make a super chaser one day if he's not a top-class hurdler, but we aren't talking about chasing at the moment. The Fighting Fifth is the plan.
Marown
6g Milan - Rosie Suspect
Trevor Hemmings
1/11-3
RPR 129c 132h OR 130c 130h
He's a nice horse who won his bumper and both his novice hurdles and had his first run over fences at Ayr the other day. He finished third, but it was only two miles and he'll be a three-mile chaser on a bit of nice ground in the spring. He's had only three runs over obstacles and will be a lovely horse as he goes on in life.
OLIVER SHERWOOD
Dominateur
7g Desir D'Un Soir - Sourya D'Airy
Kate & Andrew Brooks
/F1137-3
RPR 145c OR 141c
His jumping was a bit rusty but he ran okay behind Pym at Sandown, where he was up against it at the weights and would have preferred softer ground. He's had a few days with Laura Collett since for a bit more jumping practice and the idea is for him to have one more run before the Welsh National. He's a dour stayer.
Jersey Bean
7g Court Cave - Jennifers Diary
A Taylor
278-311
RPR 139c 139h OR 135c 125h
He's been a revelation this autumn. He lost his way last year and didn't jump his fences with much vigour, so we sent him to Henrietta Knight for a week and she suggested blinkers. I wasn't keen on that as he's so tough, but they've completely changed him as they've made him focus on his jumping. He beat quite a competitive field nicely at Exeter last time, and although he went up 10lb to 135 I think that's still workable. I'd love to run him over three and a half miles or four miles in a Midlands National or something like that if it wasn't a bog, but he can't handle soft or heavy ground.
Ocean Drifter
5g Aizovski - Driftaway
Tim Syder
3/213-21
RPR 118h OR 120h
He was second first time over hurdles to a good horse of Dan Skelton's and then won a little race at Fontwell. He was all out there, but having been headstrong last season he's so much more relaxed now so it's time to step him up in trip. He's already qualified for the EBF Final, and that's in the back of my mind as a goal. He's won a point-to-point and I'd like to think he'll get three miles. Chasing will be his game one day.
Sevarano
7g Shantou - Eva La Diva
Tim Syder
/11422-1
RPR 142c 136h OR 139c 135h
I was delighted with his first chase run at Sandown, where his jumping was exquisite. I haven't got a set plan, but he'll probably have another run in a novice over two and a half miles and then perhaps go for something bigger over Christmas. I'm dying to run him over three miles, but it will be one step at a time. I've always thought chasing was his game and he probably should have gone over fences last season.
MATTHEW SMITH
Ronald Pump
7g Schiaparelli - Fruit Yoghurt
Laois Limerick Syndicate
12242-F
RPR 159h OR 156h
He's 100 per cent fine after his fall at Navan. He was going to be involved in the finish if he stood up but he had a good blow and hopefully will improve for the run. We're staying over hurdles with him for the season and he could go to the Hatton's Grace next. I think two and a half miles on heavy ground would be fine for him if it came up like that.
JAMIE SNOWDEN
Anythingforlove
5m Black Sam Bellamy - La Perrotine
Foxtrot Racing Anythingforlove
11-
RPR 108b
She’s a sister to the Gold Cup winner Sizing John and won both of her bumpers last season. She started off in a novice hurdle on Sunday at Uttoxeter, but the pin came out of the stirrup at the start and Gavin Sheehan wasn’t able to ride her throughout the race. She had a little jump round and ended up finishing fourth. We were hoping to go for a Listed race at Haydock in a month’s time, but we’ll go back to the drawing board and find another novice or maiden. She’s a very talented mare and we live to fight another day..
Ga law
4g Sinndaw - Law
The Footie Partnership
16-111
RPR 152c OR 150c
He's run only five times and has won four of them. He's unbeaten over fences and he's been pretty impressive, most recently in the Rising Stars at Wincanton. He went up to 150 after that, and I think we'll go to Sandown next for the Henry VIII. It's a drop back in trip, but he's only been running over the intermediate trip while the ground was drier. On softer ground two miles will be fine, and he's a lovely jumper, so those seven fences down the back should suit him well. He gets that four-year-old allowance too, of course. After that it might just be one more run and then Cheltenham perhaps.
Kiltealy Briggs
6g Fame And Glory - Baby Briggs
McNeill Family
2131P-2
RPR 140c 135h OR 140c 136h
He's out of a sister to the Grand National winner Ballabriggs and was always going to be one of those horses with whom anything achieved over hurdles was a bonus, so he did very well to reach the level he did last season. We ran him in the Albert Bartlett, but he had colic straight afterwards and needed two operations, so he certainly didn't run his race that day. Thankfully he's come back really well, and he was second first time out over fences in a graduation chase at Carlisle, where two miles was much too short but he only just failed to get back up. He's a proper chaser and he's gong to be much better over further. He's smart and there should be a decent handicap in him, but there's a Grade 2 at Ascot we might think about.
Stoney Mountain
7g Mountain High - Cherry Pie
Anita Gillies
P/11U59-
RPR 145h OR 142h
He came from the Trevor Hemmings dispersal [cost £140,000] as a mid-140s staying hurdler. He'll go novice chasing now and has done lots of jumping here. He stays well, jumps nicely and will probably start off over fences in a beginners' chase at Ludlow early in December. He'll be a proper staying chaser.
SAM THOMAS
Good Risk At All
4g No Risk At All - Sissi Land
Waters Plant Hire Ltd
21
RPR 115b
We've always thought a lot of him as he finds everything very easy at home, so it was nice to see what he did in the Listed bumper at Cheltenham after he'd been beaten first time out at Newton Abbot, where he'd been a little green and was caught flat-footed. He'd clearly come on by leaps and bounds since then, but I was very worried about the ground at Cheltenham. He'll go jumping now, as he's obviously a nice horse with an engine and if we were to wait until March for the Champion Bumper that's obviously a very hard race to win and it can be rough too. We'll try to nick a little novice or two and then perhaps put him away.
Iwilldoit
7g Flying Legend - Lyricist's Dream
Diamond Racing Ltd
1612/91-
RPR 137c 126h OR 133c 128h
He hasn't run since winning on his chasing debut at Kelso last December, but we had him in three times just prior to lockdown and each meeting was abandoned. He's very lightly raced but has got better and better every season. His main assets are his stamina and his jumping, and I'd like to train him for a Welsh National one day as he stays all day and loves the mud. He's a smashing horse and he'll reappear in a 0-135 at Carlisle at the end of the month.
Skytastic
4g Way Of Light- Verzasca
Walters Plant Hire Ltd
1
RPR 105b
He's a big, raw horse who won a Newbury bumper first time out. He'd be 17 hands already and he'll be an absolute monster next season when he's a bit bigger and stronger. He'll come on no end for his run in every sense as he hadn't been away before, and he'll go jumping straight away now. We'll try to find a nice novice for him on a big galloping track, maybe back at Newbury or up at Doncaster.
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