Paul Nolan
Latest Exhibition
Target: Neville Hotels Novices Chase - Leopardstown, Tuesday
He won his chase well the first day and it was a quick turnaround on very bad ground when he was beaten by a good horse of Gordon’s at Punchestown (Pencilfulloflead). Bryan (Copper) said that he was struggling from the start that day and hopefully the return to better ground at Leopardstown will help him. He was never happy the last day and I’d like to think that he is better than that.
We have freshened him up since and he seems to be in very good form. The step up to three miles should be in his favour, but we are under no illusions how difficult a task he faces. Monkfish looked very good at Fairyhouse and this looks a proper Grade 1 novice chase. Having said that we are looking forward to running him. It was lovely ground when he won his Grade 1 (novice hurdle) at Leopardstown earlier in the year and it’s great to have one good enough for these races.
Fitzhenry
Paddy Power Chase - Leopardstown, Monday
There is no getting away from the fact that he has been disappointing so far this season. His two runs have been poor, and he dropped away in the straight when he appeared to hold every chance in the Troytown Chase.
We are just hoping that a return to Leopardstown will suit him. He clearly likes it around there and he was placed in the race last year, but his recent form has been disappointing. Three miles around there seems to be his forte and if he can get back to something like his best form, then he will give a good account of himself.
Mrs Milner
Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
It is always a bit of a sickner when you get 6lbs for finishing second (at Cheltenham) – that is a winner’s penalty, but she ran very well over there and is clearly going the right way. She seems to be improving, but it remains to be seen how she will fare off 129 in a better race. She has come out of Cheltenham fine and we’ve been very happy with her and hopefully a good few of the higher rated horses will run and that she will get in here with a nice weight on her back. Hopefully the three miles will suit – I think it will.
Quamino
“Bet Through the Racing Post App” Handicap Chase - Leopardstown, St Stephens’ Day
He has run two good races at Dundalk and he’s a horse which needs nice ground. We’re going back to the race he won two years ago and hopefully the rain stays away. The handicapper probably has a good hold of him, but he likes it around Leopardstown and two miles around there on what hopefully will be nice ground will suit him.
Tucanae
O’Kelly Brothers Mares Handicap Hurdle - Limerick, St Stephen’s Day
She had a good few options and we decided to declare her for the mares’ handicap hurdle at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day. She is adaptable ground wise so if it gets very soft there, she should be okay, and in truth, she has yet to run a bad race. She got 6lbs for her Fairyhouse win and I hope the handicapper is right about that, he usually is. We think she is still improving and we’ve always liked her.
Gordon Elliott
Zanahiyr
Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle - Leopardstown, St Stephen’s Day
He learned plenty the first day at Ballinrobe and he used that experience to good effect when he was impressive at Fairyhouse. It looks like he’ll get his ground so there is no reason not to run him in the Grade 2 on Stephen’s Day. He looks a smart horse and it’s great for Noel and Valerie (Moran) to have a horse like him – they are big supporters of the yard. He is so well in himself that it makes sense to go there with him.
Felix Desjy
Racing Post Novice Chase - Leopardstown, St Stephen’s Day
He stepped up a good bit from Killarney by winning well the last day at Punchestown. The form of that race has worked out well, with the runner up, Sizing Pottsie winning a good handicap chase since. He looks a smart horse, and we can ride him a bit differently now too. He is a sound jumper, and he is an out-and-out two-miler.
Ballyadam
Paddy Power Future Stars Novices Hurdle - Leopardstown, Sunday
He was good the other day at Fairyhouse and we were very happy with him. His jumping was a bit untidy but Jack was keen to teach him and we think he’ll come on from that. He has a bit to learn but this looks the obvious race to go for with him. He is still a bit raw, but he is clearly going the right way and he’s horse that we like a lot.
Sire Du Berlais
Christmas Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
It will be his first start in a Grade 1 but he deserves to be there. He was good when he won at Navan last time and he’s a dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s in good form and we’re looking forward to running him.
Fury Road
Christmas Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
The form of his Albert Bartlett third looks very strong and we’re hopeful he can develop into a Stayers’ Hurdle contender. He started off his season nicely at Punchestown the last day and we think this step up in trip will suit him. He’s in good form.
The Storyteller
Christmas Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
He has been a great horse for us and it was brilliant to win another Grade 1 with him over fences at Down Royal. If anything, he has been every bit as good for us over hurdles so we think it’s worth having a go with him here.
Like the other two, he’s in great form and we’re looking forward to seeing him out again.
Presenting Percy
Savills Chase - Leopardstown, Monday
He was very good at Thurles and I think he has come forward again from that run. The main thing is that he got his head in front and we’re hoping that will do his confidence the power of good.
Samcro
Savills Chase - Leopardstown, Monday
He has yet to run over three miles but this looks the obvious race to try him in over this trip and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was travelling best of all at the second last. After that we’ll just have to see if stays the trip.
If he does, he will run a big race. It was always my intention to run him over three miles early in the season and with the ground likely to suit, he’ll take his chance.
Delta Work
Savills Chase - Leopardstown, Monday
He seems to love it around Leopardstown. He also seems to always need his first run back so we’re hopeful he will do a lot better now.
He won this race last year and all in all, he has been a very consistent horse for us. The likely nice ground will help him and we’re hopeful of another big run.
Tom Mullins
Chavi Artist
Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
We were hoping to get him and Scoir Mear into the Paddy Power Chase but he didn’t in and Scoir Mear is only second reserve. The plan for him is to go to the Pertemps Qualifer with instead. The track will suit him and you can put a line through his last run at Fairyhouse.
He made a mistake early on that day and he was pulled up shortly after it. He has been fine at home since and we’re hopeful he can run well.
Takarengo
Tote.ie Maiden Hurdle - Leopardstown, Monday
He wants a trip over hurdles but seems to be improving with each run. He ran well around Leopardstown last year. He has been a good servant and when it all comes together for him, he should be able to win a maiden hurdle.
Two and a half miles plus will suit him and I’m hopeful he can go well.
Breakeven
The perfect race for him is in Limerick but if the ground is heavy, he won’t go there, and the chances are that he’ll go to Leopardstown for a maiden hurdle, the decent ground being the key.
He is in super form and he is another horse that I hope can win his maiden hurdle and if things go his way.
He has been a shade unlucky a couple of times and when things work out for him, he’ll win again.
Ciaran Murphy/Dot Love
Jack Hackett
“Bet Through the Racing Post App” Handicap Chase - Leopardstown, St Stephens’ Day
Jack Hackett heads to Leopardstown for the two-mile handicap chase on Stephen’s Day and I think he’ll run well. He was too free when he ran poorly over hurdles the last day at Punchestown, but he can be forgiven that, and we think he is back in good form.
He appreciates a bit of nice ground and he has been running well against some very good novices this season. He’ll be one of the last of ours to run under Dot’s name, so hopefully he’ll run a big race for her.
Trevena
O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Mares Handicap Hurdle - Limerick, St Stephen’s Day
She’ll go to Limerick for a handicap hurdle on Stephens Day and being by Camelot, she’ll handle the likely heavy ground down there. She is in super form and I think she has a nice enough mark and like Jack Hackett, hopefully she’ll represent Dot well before she hands over the licence to me.
Dot has been brilliant to me from the time that I started here with her and she will remain a huge part of what we do here. I wouldn’t be where I am without Dot and I owe her a huge amount. With a bit of luck, the few horses that we have over Christmas will run well. For her to sign off on a winner would be fantastic.