Natural Ruler

(Johnny Murtagh)

Dundalk, March 8th

There was no matching decisive winner Al Mudhaffar (backed into 1/3 favouritism) in the mile maiden for three-year-olds at Dundalk last week, but the staying-on second Natural Ruler is bound to be of interest wherever he goes next. Keeping on encouragingly on his return from 166 days off, this was much better than his first two efforts and he looks to be learning with experience. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper assesses him. Depending on how favourably or not he rates his form, he will most likely be of interest in a three-year-old-only handicap. (MB)

Rauzan

(Eoin Doyle)

Gowran Park, March 9th

It was a weak maiden hurdle that Rauzan plugged away in to finish fourth, but the run did represent a little progress and he is now eligible for handicaps, where he will be of much more interest. The well-bred four-year-old by Australia, previously with the Aga Khan, showed some promise on the flat for Mick Halford and Tracey Collins before changing hands for €15,000 in October. Nothing got involved from off the pace here, and while he was beaten 22 lengths, he could be of interest in a summer handicap hurdle for the Eoin Doyle team. (MB)

Good N’ Kind

(Henry de Bromhead)

Gowran Park, March 9th

The “Doc’s Bumper” at Gowran last Saturday is a race with a rich history, won by horses such as First Lieutenant, Yorkhill, Bob Olinger, Journey With Me and Tullyhill in the last number of years, so it is a race always worth paying some attention to. There was lots to like about the performance of Willie Mullins’ winning favourite Port Joulain, who appears to be held in high regard by connections, but it was eyecatching to see just how strongly the market spoke in favour of Henry de Bromhead’s point-to-point recruit Good N’ Kind, who finished a promising second. Robcour and de Bromhead tend to save a quality horse for this race, and their 2024 representative looks full of potential. With the stable not necessarily renowned for first-time-out bumper winners, this can be taken as a positive start to his career. (MB)

Carlas Big Jim

(Louis Archdeacon)

Gowran Park, March 9th

It has been a fine season for Carlas Big Jim after he made it back-to-back wins at Gowran last Saturday, and it could get even better for Louis Archdeacon’s gelding judging by the manner of his victory in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Gowran on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding led from the start, as is his wont, and the longer the race went on in the straight, the more comfortable he looked and he was going away again at the line from Dgalwaygallivantor. Heavy ground and two and a half miles seems to suit him well, but perhaps connections can look at a longer trip now, given how well he stays, and that could unlock further improvement. (RG)

El Champo

(Philip Rothwell)

Gowran Park, March 9th

El Champo caught the eye with the way he finished out his race against Aime Desjy and Duffle Coat at Gowran last Saturday. Philip Rothwell’s gelding had no answer to the favourite when push came to shove in the straight, and he wasn’t knocked about once beaten, but still did well to overcome Starman in third. He is a three-time winner over hurdles and off this evidence, there is a good chance he can be as good over fences. This was just his second start in this sphere. Expect to see him again at beginners level and then keep an eye on him in a handicap chase, either this season, or next winter. (RG)

Red Glory

(Henry de Bromhead)

Naas, March 10th

It paid to be handy in the two-mile handicap hurdle for horses rated 102 at Naas last Sunday, so third-placed Red Glory’s run can be marked up after getting a little back in the pack. The handicap debutant has been a work in progress over hurdles and missed 613 days prior to his seasonal return, but this was a step in the right direction. He did well not to be brought down at the last and jumped a little to his right at times, so there is something to work on with him. It was only his fourth run over hurdles, and he looks up to winning a little handicap - potentially even a couple if he’s campaigned in the summer. (MB)

Jumping Jet

(Gordon Elliott)

Naas, Match 10th

Connections of Jumping Jet will have been delighted to achieve blacktype following her second to Tactical Move but perhaps they can hope for a bit more from the mare now after a second career best effort in a row. Gordon Elliott’s mare was only beaten three lengths by the admittedly comfortable winner, but that Willie Mullins gelding is a talented sort and the pair of them finished well clear. Jumping Jet was a mare of huge potential during the early stages of her career. She won a Gowran bumper by a distance and was bought by Robcour presumably for a lofty fee. She has yet to live up to that potential and was passed on to new owners (Jane and Brian McConnell) and since found herself at a lower level. She has proven very effective on heavy ground and with those conditions, she is certainly worth another look, and a winning graded race against her own sex is a realistic target now. (RG)

Howdoyoulikeherhome

(Patrick Foley)

Naas, Match 10th

You more or less had to race prominently at Naas on Sunday to have a winning chance, so those who managed to close from the back warrant a second look and one that caught the eye was Howdoylikeherhome. She raced at the rear of the field in the two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle won by Raglan Road, closing up towards the winner and runner-up Kilbree Warrior in the straight to finish third, beaten eight lengths. This was a good, solid effort from the five-year-old gelding, and another step forward. Raglan Road has promised plenty and Kilbree Warrior is a really solid yardstick. The son of Champs Elysees was sent off favourite here on account of his lightly raced profile and he remains potentially well handicapped off a mark of 108, especially with his scope to progress with more experience. (RG)

Ronan and Mark will be back with a bumper Cheltenham horses to follow column next Saturday.