Se Mo Laoch

(B.McMahon)

Punchestown, December 8th

This capable nine-year-old made a pleasing return to action when finishing second to Unexpected Depth in a handicap hurdle over three miles at Punchestown last week. He will surely progress well for his first run since March and could easily add to his tally over both hurdles and fences over the coming months.

Lean Araig

(O. McKiernan)

Punchestown, December 8th

A winner of a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas in February 2015, this 11-year-old has been restricted to just five runs since then.

On his second run of the season he wasn’t disgraced when fourth to Eklat De Rire in a three-mile beginners’ chase and there was enough in this effort to suggest he could make his mark again at some stage this season.

Arrycan

(L.P. Cusack)

Tramore, December 10th

Je wasn’t beaten all that far into seventh on his handicap hurdle debut at Clonmel a couple of months ago. He was then beaten by over 30 lengths into eighth in a Tramore handicap last week but shaped a good deal better than the result having looked as though he could play a leading role at one stage on the final circuit. There could yet be more to come from him.

Calthor

(G. Cromwell)

Punchestown, December 11th

This former winning point-to-pointer ran well on his chasing debut at Navan last month and is certainly better than the bare form of his heavy defeat behind Captain Guinness last Friday.

In addition, there was also plenty to take from his only run over hurdles at Galway in October. There are definitely races to be won with him.

Ruling

(J.P. O’Brien)

Dundalk, December 11th

On his debut this Camelot colt had to settle for fourth in a mile maiden at Dundalk but he ran quite a nice race.

His yard’s juveniles tend to improve a good deal as a result of their initial runs and he could take a good deal of beating whenever he turns out again.

Cusp Of Carabelli

(D.M. O’Brien)

Fairyhouse, December 12th

After running well at a big price to chase home Chavi Artist at Punchestown last month, he dropped down from two and three-quarter miles to finish third to Sizing Pottsie in a decent handicap chase over the minimum trip last Saturday when he was allowed to go off at 33/1.

These last two runs would suggest that he could make his mark in a decent handicap chase at some point this season.

Schone Aussicht

(H. de Bromhead)

Naas, December 14th

A vastly experienced five-time flat winner in Germany and France, this five-year-old made an encouraging start to her career over jumps to finish fifth in the maiden hurdle won by Delvino.

She was beaten just under 16 lengths in what looked a particularly warm contest and it shouldn’t take her long to make her mark.

Stellar Spirit

(M. Halford)

Dundalk, December 16th

This son of Charm Spirit was having his second run in the mile conditions race won by Catena Zapata where he was beaten just over four lengths into fifth.

He did shape better than the final result though and, possibly over a slightly shorter trip, he could make his mark on the Polytrack in the next number of weeks.

Stansfield

(P. Traynor)

Down Royal, December 17th

This gelding wasn’t disgraced in a couple of decent bumpers last season and returned to that initial promise when he was fourth in the rated novice chase won by Arahecan. This latest run would suggest he will be up to making his mark over fences at some point.