DENIS Hogan has a nice batch of horses to run for the winter and last year he bought a number of store horses which he will start off in point-to-points and he explained: “We bought around 10 store horses last year and the intention was to give them plenty of time then get them going in point-to-points.
“The more time you give them at that stage the better. They need to be educated and there is no point in asking them to do too much too soon. National Hunt horses are long-term prospects and you want them to last. Physically they can take more graft when they are four and five.”
He added: “My aim is every summer is to buy around a dozen stores. We take them home, throw them out, bring them back in after a good break and get them going slowly. Mine always improve for a run, but they get a great education in point-to-points - they go a sensible gallop, they jump around and they will finish out their races well. Most of the horses that we’ve run in points, I think will win one, before we send them to the track.”
“Some of the horses are bought to be sold after they win a point-to-point, while some owners might want to hang onto them. But we have some really nice young horses and it is very hard nowadays to buy a proven horse with form.
“We have gone this route and so far it appears to be working and we’ll go back again next summer and hopefully buy some more stores.”
The star of the show is Jack The Wire who remains unbeaten after winning a point-to-point and a bumper. “The dream is alive with him. I am not sure how good he is and he does everything very easily. Chasing will be his game but he looks special and he could be a very nice prospect. He won his point very well and he bolted in in his bumper and that form has worked out very well.”
BURREN VIEW LADY
5yo br m (10950262)
Dansili - Westerly Gale
Is That All Syndicate
She is a grand consistent mare and she has paid her way well. She will run away in her own grade in Dundalk and Wolverhampton for the winter. Once she gets into the 0-65 races, she can be relied upon to run her race. She has given her owners plenty of fun and hopefully there is another day or two in her over the winter. Five to seven furlongs suits her well.
BOHERNA LADY
7yo ch m (005173133)
Shantou - Bally Bolshoi
Premier Racing Club
She has been good and consistent over the summer but the ground is starting to go for her. Kevin Darcy gets a good tune out of her and the first two winners he has ridden has been on her. She was third at Thurles on Thursday but she will get a break soon and we’ll have her back for the spring. She might jump a fence next year. A great man owns her and he has got the bug now - she is his first horse.
EIRI NA CASCA
5yo b g (74-008U13)
Spadoun - Lady Of Fleet
Adrian McNamara
He won well for us at Tramore, but he was just too keen the last day over two miles and six at Galway. Johnny Burke rode him and said that we should drop him back to two and a half. He is a young horse and he can only improve. There should be a good day in him and he jumps super. He is a big horse and I didn’t think he was ready to win at Tramore and Sean Flanagan was very good on him that day. He goes well on the soft so he’ll be kept on the go for the winter.
JACK THE WIRE
5yo b g (11-)
Scorpion - Smiling Away
M.G. Hogan
He is the star of the show and we don’t know how good he is. We had him ready to run respectably at Dromahane but he won and then two weeks later, he bolted up in his bumper. He only went through the motions last winter and he is so big - he is 17hh. He could be very good and he might go for a winners’ bumper or he could go for a maiden hurdle but chasing will be his game. He jumps great and he could be the real deal. He handles any ground and he will get two and a half miles. He is a month off a run and he’s a real nice prospect and he is as good a horse as we’ve had here. He has to take on better horses now this winter but I think he has all the attributes to make into a real good horse.
LONG HOUSE ISLAND
7yo b g (5P66/6-5)
Turtle Island - Sweetbriar Rose
J.M. Duggan
He has been plagued by injury throughout his career and I used to ride him when Paul Duggan trained him himself. I always got a nice feel off him and he ran well there last Sunday at Naas. There is a day in him for sure off 97. He is a grand, honest type of horse that will pay his way.
MEADOW CROSS
3yo b f NH: (0704) F: (0-06030)
Cape Cross - Hovering
Is That All Syndicate
She is a mare for next year. She ran well on the flat for us at Galway and she jumps well and I think she’ll win a juvenile hurdle this year. She is a dual-purpose filly and will want a mile and a half on the flat. Chasing will be her game and she is big mare that can only improve.
MISDFLIGHT
5yo ch g (0C6-021)
Indian River - Jody’s Girl
Village Bloodstock Partnership
He ran very well when second to an in-form filly at Down Royal last Friday. He got 6lb for that run so I was more or less forced into running him at Fairyhouse on Wednesday where he won. He is a nice horse and he will improve. He will jump a fence down the road.
OTTOMAN KING
3yo b g (22)
Arcano - Musicial Review
James Gough
He won a couple on the flat at the smaller tracks in France. He has had a run in a schooling hurdle and he jumps well. He handles soft ground and he will be a dual-purpose horse in time but he goes well and I like him. He is a few weeks off a run and I think he’ll be competitive in a juvenile hurdle. The main thing is that he handles soft ground well so if he takes to jumping, he could be okay.
NEATLY PUT
5yo b g (4/01407-)
Rail Link - Neath
Michael Denning
He won a bumper for us last year and I thought a lot of him but we later found out that he had to have a wind operation. We’ll crack on over hurdles with him now. He jumps well and he could be a nice novice hurdler. I think two is his trip and he has plenty of pace. He wouldn’t want it real heavy, but he retains all of his ability and he is a horse that I have always thought a lot of.
REDWOOD BOY
6yo b g (93/558-9050)
Definite Article - Native Sunset
John Patrick Sherlock
He is getting closer to winning one. He has had two runs for me and he made a bad mistake when he finished fifth the last day. He ran at Thurles on Thursday but he wouldn’t want it worse than yielding, so I’d say that we’ll give him a break. He is a nice horse and should be competitive off his mark. He will jump a fence next year.
RIDESTAN
5yo b g NH: 0/120FP-5 F: 70/8115-50
Linngari - Ridakiya
Premier Spirit Syndicate
He has been a bit disappointing but we have found that he has had a kissing spine. We have had that treated and he looks a much happier horse now. He will go chasing soon enough, but he will run in a conditions hurdle at Clonmel in a weeks’ time and then crack on over fences. There is a good day in him and he is still a young horse and in fairness to his owners, they had him checked out and all seems good with him now.
SAMSON BILL
7yo b g (28/24515-)
Brian Boru - Clashbeg
Clashbeg Syndicate
He won a maiden hurdle last year but he is a massive, big horse and has chaser written all over him. He has the pace for two miles and once we dropped him back to two miles, he looked a better horse. He is rated 116 over hurdles so he’ll go for one of those chases confined to horses rated 116 or lower. I think he’ll get two and a half miles and long-term, I think he will make into a very good handicap chaser. This season’s novice chasers look exceptional so he’ll have to be above average to compete in those good novice chases but I think he will be a far better horse over fences. He has a great cruising speed and he jumps great.
SHES A GANGSTER
6yo ch m (834P-006)
Flemensfirth - Pataya
Meadows Racing Club
She has been a bit disappointing as she was placed in a couple of bumpers. She is rated 95, but I think we’ll let her take her chance in another mares’ maiden hurdle. She wants a trip and I think we’ll see a better mare over fences. She is honest and she tries hard hopefully there will be a day in her.
ZARLIMAN
5yo ch g NH: (00-99) F: (707-06354)
Zamindar - Zarlana
Boherna Racing Syndicate
He is one for Dundalk and he will mix it away and I think he’ll have his day under both codes but he must have a bit of nice ground, so he won’t run too often over hurdles during the winter.
YOUNG HORSES
BENASCHUINE
4yo b g (-F)
Beneficial - Almnadia
M.G. Hogan
He fell at Dromahane as he was a bit fresh and buzzed up. I think a bit of him, but he’ll go back to Dromahane at the weekend. He is more a bumper horse as he has plenty of pace. He is a nice horse that I’d say will turn up in a bumper in the new year.
BIG BAD BRIAN
4yo b g
Brian Boru - Daragh’s Dream
Tierney & Hayes Partnership
He is a fine, big horse that has taken a bit of time to come to hand. He looks a chaser and he will start off in a point-to-point in a few weeks’ time. He is a nice horse and he should have no trouble winning his point-to-point.
JOE STRAWBERRIES
5yo b g (-F4)
Fruits Of Love - Joyau
M.G. Hogan
He was travelling well when he fell first time out and I ran him back quick enough when fourth in what looked a tidy maiden. I like this lad and he should have no trouble winning his point-to-point before he goes to the track.
LADY LONDON
4yo b f (-5)
Beneficial - Tortuff Storm
M.G. Hogan
She is a gorgeous filly and she ran a cracker when fifth in what looked a good race at Roscommon last weekend. She will go for a four-year-old fillies point and she could tackle a bumper around Christmas time. I think she’ll win her point-to-point no problem and she is a filly that I like.
LOVE ANTHEM
6yo b m (04987P)
Royal Anthem - Rita’s Charm
T.B. Conroy
She needed the run on her first start and she will run again next weekend. She is from a good staying family and I think she will win her point but she does want a bit of nice ground.
UP THE LOFT
6yo b g (-83)
Luso - Bawnogue Society
M.G. Hogan
He is a big, chasing type that ran a lovely race on his first start and he should have little trouble winning his point before we send him chasing on the track.
THE BLACK ROBIN
5yo b/br g (-3)
Robin Des Pres - Dihaila
Patsy Corcoran
He was third to what looked a good horse of Joseph O’Brien’s last weekend. He will come on for that and he should win his point before he goes to the track. He is a nice horse for the future.