Mark Howard completes his series with six more horses from around other yards you need to add to your trackers for the season ahead.
'He could be a different proposition'
There is every reason to believe the lightly raced BIG AMBITIONS will leave his previous form behind when stepped up in trip and tackling fences for the first time.
A five year old by Shantou who was acquired for €90,000 as a store, the Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding is a full-brother to dual Grade 1 winner Death Duty and is bred to stay well. Having shown promise in a couple of bumpers at Chepstow and Wetherby in December last year, the Hemmings Racing owned runner was switched to timber.
Placed in all three outings over two and two and a half miles, he was seven lengths in arrears of the 120 rated Etalon over an inadequate two miles at Wetherby in late January.
A staying on third at Ffos Las over an extra half a mile three months later on his handicap debut, he doesn’t look overburdened off a mark of 106. While there is a possibility he will gain more experience over hurdles, the sooner he is switched to the larger obstacles the better. He could be a different proposition in a 0-110 or 0-115 staying novices’ handicap chase this winter.
Withdrawn from an engagement at Carlisle earlier this month, Donald McCain also took IORANGI DE L’ISLE out at Kelso (3.54) but this is a horse worth the wait.
A five year old by Lauro, he is a half-brother to five times chase winner Desque De L’Isle and raced twice between the flags for Donnchadh Doyle. He made his debut just over a year ago and was still very much in contention when falling at the second last in a four year old maiden at Loughanmore won by the potentially top-class Ballyburn the previous season.
Back in action seven weeks later, he gained compensation with a five lengths victory at Borris House (Yielding) being pushed clear after the last. Purchased privately having been highly recommended by his previous handler, he was due to contest a bumper at the Cumbrian track, but heavy conditions ruled him out. Indeed, Donnchadh Doyle has advised Donald that his new recruit doesn’t want a bog.
Provided the ground is suitable at the Borders track at the weekend, it will be disappointing if he can’t make a winning start to his Rules career before going on to better things.
'He could be the sort to develop into an Albert Bartlett horse'
From the same source, JAGWAR boasts a similar profile to Cheltenham Festival winning stablemate Iroko having finished second over hurdles at Auteuil in France before joining Olly Greenall and Josh Guerriero last season. A half-brother to Grade 3 winning chaser D’Jango, the four year old held an entry in the Triumph Hurdle last spring but has yet to race for his new connections, although he holds an entry at Aintree on Sunday (2.35).
Previously owned by Olly’s father Lord Daresbury and trained by Emmanuel Clayeux, he was ridden by triple champion James Reveley in division two of the Prix Emilius, a conditions hurdle over two and a quarter miles at the Parisian track in October. Jumping well and racing prominently, he led leaving the backstraight and was still in front jumping the second last.
Headed soon afterwards, the Karaktar gelding got tired in the ground eventually finishing six lengths behind Secret D’Etat (won twice more since including a Listed event). The fifth (twice) and seventh have scored subsequently. Acquired by J.P. McManus soon afterwards, he arrived in Cheshire around Christmas time and has been given plenty of time to fill his ample frame. Chasing will bring out the best in him eventually, but it will be disappointing if the four year old can’t win a good prize over timber beforehand.
Robcour have some terrific young prospects to look forward to and they include Irish point winner KILLANEY KING. A €90,000 foal before being sold for €140,000 as a three year old at the Tattersalls Derby Sale, he was under the tutelage of Pat Doyle when scoring by a dozen lengths at Rathcannon (Soft) in early November.
The Flemensfirth gelding made light of the tough conditions stretching away after the second last. From the family of triple Grade 1 winner Liss A Paoraigh, he joined Henry De Bromhead soon afterwards and hasn’t been rushed.
Expect to see him contesting a maiden hurdle over two or two and a half miles with the option of stepping up in distance later on.
In fact, he could be the sort to develop into an Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle horse next spring. The Grade 3 Mercedez-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel in February, a race his stable have won four times in the last seven years, may be a suitable target en route.
'She galloped clear of her rivals to record an easy victory'
Along with Majborough who was discussed in Wednesday’s article, NARA is the second Auteuil three year old winner from the spring purchased by J.P.McManus. She was trained in her native country by Patricia Butel and Jean-Luc Beaunez, who were also responsible for triple Grade 1 winning novice chaser El Fabiolo before the Spanish Moon gelding was sold to Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. An eight lengths winner of the fillies’ version of the Prix Wild Monarch at the Parisian track in April, the daughter of Jeu St Eloi has a similar profile to last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth and Henry De Bromhead must be relishing the prospect of training her.
Racing enthusiastically from the outset in the seven strong field, Nara was kept wide throughout by jockey Thomas Beaurain and never far off the pace. Pressing the leader turning for home, she jumped to the front at the penultimate hurdle in the homestraight and dominated thereafter. Despite a slightly ungainly head carriage, which was hopefully due to greenness, she galloped clear of her rivals to record an easy victory.
In terms of the form, the third was runner-up at the same track this month and the fourth filled the same position in a Grade 3 hurdle last week, but Nara was in a different league to her six opponents and it was no surprise to hear the agents were busy afterwards.
This unbeaten filly could be another high-class prospect for the Grand National winning combination of J.P.McManus and Henry De Bromhead.
Gavin Cromwell has trained seven Grade 1 winners including Espoir D’Allen (Champion Hurdle), Flooring Porter (Stayers’ Hurdle - twice) and Vanillier (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle) at the Cheltenham Festival. The County Meath handler has taken charge of the impressive Necarne point-to-point winner SPRINGT DE LA MARE who has the potential to make an impact in the top bumpers this term.
An €88,000 three year old, the No Risk At All gelding was trained by Harley Dunne and he created a lasting impression when beating Bleu De Vassy by two and a half lengths in the spring. His jumping was slick and, having taken over at the third last, stayed on strongly to beat a rival who was subsequently sold to Gigginstown House Stud (runs at Sligo on Friday (5.20)) for €235,000. The pair were nearly ten lengths ahead of the third. The winning time was 14 seconds quicker than anything else on the card. Reported to have caught the eye in a schooling race beforehand, his victory wasn’t a surprise. With his time on his side, the four year old will spent this campaign in bumpers before going over obstacles this time next year. He has a big future.
Six for the My Stable tracker
KILLANEY KING
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