PATRICK MULLINS
Assistant trainer to Willie Mullins
The majority of the winter horses spend their summer holidays with us, on land which we have especially reserved for them, so they had plenty of grass. I have to say the horses came back in looking particularly well this year. None of them look poorly.
FAUGHEEN
10yo b g (1211/1P261-)
Germany – Miss Pickering
Mrs S Ricci
He had a little operation after his Punchestown win. There was a growth of some sort between his hind legs and it was apparent after Punchestown that it was causing him discomfort. He came back in after Galway and he is working away as normal. John Codd is very happy with him but he’s only trotting at this stage. If there’s a problem it would usually only become apparent when you turn the screw about three or four weeks before they run. With our horses, that will be late September or early October generally. Faugheen’s programme is undecided. Staying hurdle races are there for him but Willie did mention novice chasing. Personally I think he would be ideal for the four-mile chase at Cheltenham! We’ll just have to see how he handles full training.
UN DE SCEAUX
10yo b g (161112/11211-)
Denham Red – Hotesse De Sceaux
Edward O’Connell
He’s back in and, as always, he is looking like a Pampalona bull! He’s huge. Virginie Bascop rides him out and he dropped her earlier this week so he still has that spark. As a top-class chaser from two miles to two and a half, his programme writes itself.
BELLSHILL
8yo b g (111F3/151-)
King’s Theatre – Fairy Native
Andrea & Graham Wylie
He won the Punchestown Gold Cup on his latest run and, before that, he was unlucky in the Irish Grand National. David [Mullins] felt he would have won if they had jumped the last fence straight but they are there to be jumped. I’d imagine we’d have to go the Gold Cup route with him now. Aisling O’Brien, who rides him out, was saying that the horse could be shown at the RDS. He has a fantastic neck and hindend on him.
DOUVAN
8yo b g (11117/F2-)
Walk In The Park – Star Face
Mrs S Ricci
We’re building him up slowly. He had a stop-start season – in fact the last 18 months have been very frustrating with him – and we just hope to get a clear run this time and show the huge ability we believe he has. Can he recover his best form? Sprinter Sacre did it, Moscow Flyer was effective as an 11-year-old, and Faugheen got back to Grade 1 level after missing a couple of seasons. It’s not easy but it can be done.
MIN
7yo b g (121224-)
Walk In The Park – Phemyka
Mrs S Ricci
He had a busy end-of-season, so he’s having a slightly longer summer break. He ran a fantastic race at Cheltenham [second to Altior], was just touched off at Aintree [by Politologue] and was below his best at Punchestown. He handles heavy ground very well.
Footpad has lots of options this year Photo: Healy Racing
FOOTPAD
6yo b g (11111-)
Creachadoir – Willamina
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
He is a hugely exciting prospect for this season. Going chasing improved him no end and he was a joy to behold over his fences. Qasim Raza, who looks after him and rides him out, has done a fantastic job. I’m not sure where Footpad will start or end up this season. He won the Arkle in a faster time than the Champion Chase but he has won over two and a half and he could step up in trip.
PENHILL
7yo b g (4112/12-)
Mount Nelson – Serrenia
Tony Bloom
He is a very fragile horse but thankfully he is sound at the moment. He showed us last season, when winning the Stayers’ Hurdle first time out, that he does not need a prep run. I imagine he will be campaigned lightly again. Perhaps not as lightly as Quevega but along those lines.
GAVIN CROMWELL
ESPOIR D’ALLEN
4yo b g (1/11114-)
Voix Du Nord - Quadanse
John P McManus
He looks great after the summer. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead with him. He’s a promising sort and was impressive when winning the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle in Leopardstown then he went a bit wrong on us. We have him back here now and he’s in good form.
JER’S GIRL
6yo b m (42257-00)
Jeremy - African Scene
John P McManus
She ran in the Galway Hurdle and then ran the Saturday of Galway – I probably ran her back too soon. She’ll stay going for the season. She’s in good form and looks great. She will start off at Down Royal.
RAZ DU MAREE
13yo ch g (P0/F2210-)
Shaanmer - Diyala III
James J Swan
He won the Welsh Grand National last year and he’ll probably head back over for that again. He’s back in work about a month now and he’s in good form. He should be back on the racecourse in the next month and is probably heading towards the Munster National at Limerick, all things going well.
Gavin Cromwell is looking forward to running Lady Ischia over hurdles Photo: Healy Racing
LADY ISCHIA
6yo b m (2/1527-)
Getaway - Summer Flight
James O’Rourke & Mrs Mary O’Rourke
She’s a big well-bred filly with lots of scope. She was second in her listed bumper last season and she showed plenty of ability. She’s off on a hurdle campaign for the season ahead and we’re looking forward to seeing her over obstacles.
JESSICA HARRINGTON
Supasundae is another horse who has plenty of options distance-wise Photo: Healy Racing
SUPASUNDAE
8yo b g (321221-)
Galileo - Distinctive Look
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
He’s back in and he’s in very good form. He is going to stay over hurdles and as you seen last season, he has plenty of options distance-wise. It’s early to say where he might start off but I’m very happy with him.
SIZING JOHN
8yo b g (1111/17-)
Midnight Legend - La Perrotine
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
He is back in and he is well after his injury. It wasn’t a life threatening injury he got (non-displaced fracture of the pelvis) and it’s great to have him back. It’s early days but we’d be looking to start him off in the John Durkan or in the Fortria Chase (two miles) at Navan. We’ll see closer to the time but his recovery has gone well so far.
WHISPERINTHEBREEZE
5yo gr g (173149-2)
Kayf Tara - Silver Spinner
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
He’s back in and he goes well. He is a promising young horse to go chasing with and we are looking forward to getting him started. He won his maiden hurdle at Naas and ran okay after that. We’re hoping chasing will bring out the best in him.
SIZING POTTSIE
4yo b/br g (14)
Kapgarde - Line Salsa
Ann & Alan Potts Limited
He is a nice young horse that we’ve always liked. He did well to win his bumper at Leopardstown and then ran a nice race to be fourth in the Tattersalls bumper at Fairyhouse. He goes hurdling and he is a horse to look forward to.
JEZKI
10yo b g (12541P0-)
Milan - La Noire
John P McManus
He only came back in on Wednesday. He’s an old favourite around here and we were delighted he was able to win twice last season. Hopefully he can win again this season
NOEL MEADE
DISKO
7yo gr g (133131/1-)
Martaline - Nikos Royale
Gigginstown House Stud
He’s not back from Gigginstown yet. Unfortunately he had an accident when we loaded him up to go to Gigginstown last April; he somehow managed to bang his head and I don’t know how it happened really. I’m told he is doing very well in Gigginstown and we’re hoping we’ll have him back very soon. We’ve alway been a big fan of him, he has just been unlucky. Hopefully he can fulfil his potential.
Road To Respect won the Leopardstown Christmas Chase last season Photo: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
ROAD TO RESPECT
7yo ch g (1/12143-)
Gamut - Lora Lady
Gigginstown House Stud
He is back in and he looks great. I haven’t even had a discussion with his owners about what sort of plan so that’ll be decided later. All that matters now is that he is well. Hopefully he can improve again this season.
MINELLA FAIR
7yo b g (221/1531-)
Flemensfirth - Bell Walks Run
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He hasn’t been seen on the course since he won by 62 lengths at Clonmel but he is 100% and he goes chasing this year. He handles soft ground well and he is an exciting novice to have.
PAT’S PICK
4yo b g (1-)
Shantou - Lady Lenson
Mrs P Sloan
He looks great and he’ll likely be heading over hurdles. He did very well to win the big Tattersalls bumper at Fairyhouse and he is a promising horse to have going forward.
JOEY SASA
9yo b/br g (7/4128-1)
Winged Love - Brescia
E Duignan
Unfortunately he picked up an injury just before Galway and it’s going to rule him out until the spring. It’s a pity because we were getting him ready for the big amateur race on the Monday and the Galway Hurdle after he won a Grade 3 hurdle at Tipperary.