THE Noel Meade-trained Road To Riches heads to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup in just over five weeks’ time and make no mistake about it, he goes there a serious contender.
The eight-year-old has improved some 20lbs over the last 12 months and in the space of seven weeks last year, he recorded back-to-back Grade 1 victories at Down Royal and Leopardstown respectively.
This time last year, he looked anything but a Gold Cup horse, but Meade has worked the oracle on the son of Gamut and while it may appear that he has been on the go for a while, he has enjoyed the best part of a month off after each run and he clearly runs best fresh.
Meade could have a strong team of horses travelling to Cheltenham and the likes of Apache Stronghold, Monksland, and Wounded Warrior should all acquit themselves well in their respective contests.
AENGUS
5yo b g 313
Robin Des Champs - Which Thistle
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He has won his bumper and he is a nice horse. He was second at Christmas over an inadequate trip but he came back from that run with a cut which held him up a bit. He should be back towards the next week or so. He is entered in a couple of the novice hurdles at Cheltenham. Whether he is up to that level we are not sure yet, but we think he is a nice horse. He would probably want slow ground.
APACHE STRONGHOLD
7yo b g 133/114-2122
Milan - First Battle
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He will go to Leopardstown next weekend. We had thought about running him in the Arkle but we decided against it. We thought he ran a real good race at Christmas and when he got there, I thought he was going to win and maybe he just didn’t see it out. I wasn’t that afraid of the trip – I thought he would get three miles. Maybe he did get it and Willie’s horse is just better than him. I think he will go on better ground and he is in The RSA and The JLT. We are hoping that he will go to Cheltenham. The Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse looks the obvious race for him at home and I have always thought that he might be a Gold Cup horse for next year. He jumped great the last day at Leopardstown but he didn’t jump that well in the Drinmore and I think he is better when he gets a lead. The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to think that he just didn’t see out the trip the last day. I think he is a very good horse.
BENEMEADE
7yo b g 5312/311406-F442U150
Beneficial - Millicent Bridge
All Fours Partnership
He was rested over the winter as he doesn’t like soft ground. He has a pretty high rating but he will be back to contest novice chases between now and the end of the season. I’d imagine we’d be looking at something for him at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
BONNY KATE
5yo ch m 7216
Beneficial - Peppardstown
Mrs Patricia Hunt
She is a full-sister to Mala Beach and she won her bumper well at Punchestown. We tried to force the pace the last day over hurdles at Leopardstown. But we ran her into the ground and she needs further. She jumped well though and she will have benefited from the experience and I’d like to think that she will be hard to beat the next day in a maiden hurdle over a trip. Two and a half miles plus will suit her. She likes soft ground.
BOSE IKARD
7yo b g 30/410900-3836111230
Brian Boru - Dolldyedee
Robert Watson and Edward J. Conroy
He is another that would prefer better ground so we gave him a winter break. I am not sure if he will get into the Irish National. He does need a trip and he might need to win another race to get into the National. He is still a novice so that gives us more options with him. We may have to bring him to England for some of those long distance chases over there. He has been competitive off his mark so you’d like to think that he should be thereabouts in those good staying chases. He had plenty of racing last year so he needed the break but he ran well in The Munster National. Ruby got off him that day and said that he’d like to ride him again and that is always a good sign.
BUSTY BROWN
9yo b g /306-2F34
Mr Combustible - Misty Brown
Sean Joseph Murphy
I’d like to think that he will improve when the ground dries up a bit. He does stay well but his jumping has been a little bit in and out. I think he is a horse that could win a nice handicap over a trip and hopefully when the ground dries out, we’ll see a better horse. He has done well enough over fences but I think there is a bit more to come from him.
CHAMPOLEON
5yo b g 1-8223P
Turtle Bowl - Trasimene
Mrs Patricia Hunt
I was very disappointed with him the last day. He had a few quick races and maybe that took its toll on him. He is a very tall horse and maybe he doesn’t want that real soft ground. We have given him a little break and he will be back for a maiden shortly. His last run was his only bad run. He should be capable of winning his maiden hurdle.
COULEUR FRANCE
7yo b g 323/2535-212134
Flemensfirth - Gaye Mercy
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He is a nice horse and he has been improving all the time. I think two and a half miles is too short for him. He will have an entry in the Albert Bartlett and he wasn’t beaten that far in The Grade 1 at Naas and all the horses in front of him are pretty useful. He couldn’t go far enough and I am not sure if he will run again beforehand but he is a horse that I have always liked and stamina is his forte.
CROSS APPEAL
9yo b g /4PP0PP/9-7932
Cape Cross - Hadeb
John Corr
He sustained a stress crack of his pastern last year so he was rested over the winter. He has come down a bit in the weights so hopefully he’ll be competitive in those staying chases. He might be a bit low now for the Irish National but we’ll probably aim him for there.
CURLEY BILL
7yo b g 9/22126/115-
Heron Island - In Excelsis
Philip J. Reynolds
He got a bang just before the Galway Hurdle which was a shame as he was just creeping into the race. He is back in full work again now and the plan would be to start off in a flat race somewhere and races like the Galway Hurdle are what we are looking at. He seems 100% again and if we are happy with him, we might have him back for some of the good handicaps at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
DOWN ACE
8yo ch m /1111070-42321F0
Generous - Full Of Birds
Paul Sullivan
She is a nice mare that has won her novice chase. She fell after that at Thurles and she made one mistake at Leopardstown but she was just a bit out of her comfort zone in a race like that. She is very courageous and she tries very hard. When we get her back into her own level, she’ll be fine. We’ll more than likely keep her to mares’ races and we might try her over hurdles at some stage.
FESTIVE FELON
8yo b g 5/14430-U6700
Gold Well - Takara
Tu Va Racing Club
He hasn’t taken to fences very well and I am not sure how the handicapper has given him a rating of 116. He will more than likely go back for another beginners’ chase. We gave him a little break over Christmas and he seems to be in good shape - he does stay well.
FISHER BRIDGE
12yo ch g /621/0P/4248P-516
Singspiel - Kristal Bridge
Robert Watson
He had a stress crack and while he is getting on a bit now, I still think he can win another race or two. He is in good shape again. He will do a bit of everything over the summer as he likes the good ground. He is high enough over fences so we might try him in a handicap hurdle at some stage.
GLENMOREANGIE
6yo b g 9-6F67
Scorpion - Sister Swing
S. O’Driscoll, G. Britton, J. Owens, S. O’Rourke
He has been a bit disappointing. He is a big, leggy horse so he might improve with a bit of time. He might also prefer better ground but we think he will win a race somewhere. He is a very good mover so he might just be a horse that will improve for the better ground.
HARVEY LOGAN
6yo b g 2S/35066-117
Safron Walden - Baie Barbara
J.P. McManus
He went up a good bit for what he has done. He then ran a stinker at Navan and we never found a reason for that. We gave him a little break after that but he is still a novice. I hope his last run was just one of those things and he’ll be back in a couple of weeks.
HECK THOMAS
7yo b g 12/52
Oscar - Good Heighway
J.P. McManus
He was second the last day over hurdles at Leopardstown and hopefully he can build on that and win his maiden hurdle. He should progress away but he is more a chaser.
ICE COLD SOUL
5yo b g 1-1
Stowaway - Western Whisper
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a full-brother to Outlander. He won his bumper at Cork and the plan had been to go over hurdles with him but he met with a slight setback so he will see out the season in bumpers. He looks a reasonable horse but we haven’t worked him since he won. We will find a winners’ bumper for him and take it from there.
IPSOS DU BERLAIS
9yo gr g /1P23580-P670U
Poliglote - Isis Du Berlais
Gigginstown House Stud
He is in the last chance saloon – he just doesn’t want to know. He has entries for the weekend and I think he is getting closer to becoming an event horse for Megan O’Leary – she has her eye on him for a while now. He needs to throw in a performance. He ran alright over the banks before so we’ll see how the weekend goes.
JACK SLADE
5yo ch g 490
Stowaway - Sharps Express
No Rush Man Syndicate
He has just been disappointing. We thought he’d run well on heavy ground at Naas and he bumped into a good horse that day. But he has been struggling and I just feel that he wants better ground. He does jump very well and he works like a nice horse at home so we’ll give him a chance now and wait for the better ground before he’ll run again.
JOSEPHINE MARCUS
5yo b m 1-98982
Flemensfirth - Tart Of Tipp
West Coast Pinner Syndicate
She had shown me very little before she ran well when second at Navan on Saturday and on the basis of that, she should be able to win a handicap. But the handicapper put her up 4lbs for that which looks harsh. The ground was awful at the weekend and she ran well on it but I think she will go away on better ground as well.
KILLER MILLER
6yo b g 33-3
Flemensfirth - Miss Brandywell
Noel Meade
I was disappointed with him the other day. We thought he’d win but the ground was terrible. We got a bit held up with him before Christmas but we’ll try and win a bumper with him. He won’t run again until the ground dries up. He is a horse that we like and I’d like to think that he is capable of winning a bumper before we send him over hurdles.
MONKSLAND
8yo b g O1113/121/32
Beneficial - Cush Jewel
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He has come out of Gowran very well but he has been very difficult to train as we can’t do too much with him. His next run will be at Cheltenham and I’d like to think that he will go there a contender. He has run well around there before and he will appreciate better ground. We have always thought a lot of him and he ran well behind Dessie’s horse at Christmas on his first start back. He seems to be in great shape after Gowran so hopefully we’ll get a clear run with him between now and Cheltenham.
You’d like to think that if all went well over there that he might be a contender. He just seemed to get tired in the bad ground at Gowran. We have had to do everything very slowly with him. He ran well over there before and if we get him there 100% on the better ground, I’d be hopeful that he’ll acquit himself well.
MULLAGHANOE RIVER
7yo b g /572F13UF-
Beneficial - Wahiba Hall
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He had a little setback last year so I am not sure if we’ll have him back for this season. It is not a serious problem but he is on the mend and we’ll hopefully have him back at some stage this year
NED BUNTLINE
7yo b g 2/1213/3122-49
Refuse To Bend - Intrum Morshaan
J.P. McManus
He ran at Christmas time over hurdles but he didn’t seem to handle the heavy ground at all. He just can’t handle that bad ground so we have more or less decided that he will go straight back to Cheltenham for the Grand Annual, a race that he was second in last year. We may take him to Leopardstown for a school before he travels.
OFFICIEUX
4yo ch g 431
Discover d’Auteuil - Souri Des Champs
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He has been very free but he looks a nice horse. He will go for The Grade 1 at Leopardstown next Sunday. If he puts up a good show there, he could go for the Triumph. We also have the option of the Fred Winter, so Leopardstown will tell us where he will go. He has been a hard horse to settle and he was keen until nearly halfway the last day. I like him and I think there is more to come from him. He is bred to get further and he jumps well.
OWEN MC
7yo b g 11/9600
Oscar - They Call Me Molly
J.P. McManus
He is on a bit of a break as he wants better ground so we’ll have him back for the spring. He has won two bumpers but he has been very disappointing over hurdles.
PLEASE TALK
9yo b g /4U8884P/P3P8-2120
Beneficial - Fresh Partner
J.P. McManus
He is having a break and he’ll be back for the spring.
RATHNURE REBEL
5yo b g 1
Beneficial - Euro Magic
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a nice horse and the plan was to crack on over hurdles with him but he had a little setback so he will see out this season in bumpers. He has won a point-to-point and he does stay well. He is from the family of Sweet Kiln. He isn’t too far off a run and I’d say we’ll see the best of him over staying trips.
RICH COAST
7yo b g 5P-3131
King’s Best - Costa Rica
Philip J. Reynolds
He gave himself a good rap before he ran in the Monksfield Hurdle at Navan and we had to rest him for six weeks. He is in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, but I am not sure if we’ll have him fit enough to go there. He has the option of Fairyhouse and Punchestown and I think those tracks will suit him better as he prefers a flat track. He is a nice horse.
RUSSIAN BILL
5yo b g 63311
Kalanisi - Littleton Liberty
Joseph Kirwan
He is tough and hardy and he jumps well. He won his maiden hurdle over a trip that was a bit short for him and funnily enough he has a real flat pedigree. He wants three miles though and he is a tough little horse. He is in the Albert Bartlett and we’ll see how he gets on between now and then. It is a speculative entry but he has a great attitude and that is a big help in those long distance races.
SILVER TASSIE
7yo b g 3255/64212144F-14239
Shantou - Silver Castor
Mrs Patricia Hunt
I left him off as he can’t handle that bad ground. He is another that wants a trip and he’ll be back for novice chases in the spring. He is a fast ground horse and he does stay well. He might be a horse for the Plate.
SIX STONE NED
9yo gr g /2126582377-04608
Great Palm - Ashfield Rosie
Desperado Syndicate
He must have good ground and I think that there is a race in him. He will do a bit of both and he has been fancied a few times so there should be another day in him somewhere along the way.
SNOW FALCON
5yo b g 212221
Presenting – Flocon De Neige
Mrs Patricia Hunt
He is in the two staying races at Cheltenham. He won well the other day and he sprinted from the last. I’d say he is a good horse and the horse that beat him at Leopardstown looks a smart type. They flew up the straight and they went another half a mile before they were pulled up. He wants better ground and he is from a very good Aga Khan family. He could be a lively outsider for one of the novice hurdles at Cheltenham.
TEXAS JACK
9yo b g /2133127/3314-42
Curtain Time - Sailors Run
Robert Watson
He ran terrible the last day at Thurles and we have put that down to the ground - Paul said that he couldn’t jump out of it. If we are happy with him he’ll head onto Leopardstown for The Hennessey. That will tell us a lot more about him. He is a good horse – he might not be a Grade 1 horse, but we’ll let him take his chance at Leopardstown as there might not be a huge field there. He has entries at Cheltenham, but at the moment I’d say that he’ll stay at home for Fairyhouse and Punchestown. He had a little hold up after Leopardstown last year so we didn’t get a run into him for a while. He did run well in the Durkan though.
THE HERDS GARDEN
6yo b g 2247-26124842
Multiplex - Eternal Legacy
Even Merrier Syndicate
I don’t know what to make of him. He works like a good horse, but he has been a bit disappointing and I remember last year we took on Shaneshill in a bumper at Fairyhouse and we have always thought that he is better than he is. He might just want better ground and those horses tend to come right for you at some stage. He won his maiden hurdle on good ground so we’ll see how he gets on and he might just improve in the spring when the ground dries out.
TOM HORN
9yo ch g /20/313950-0712P
Beneficial - Lady Shackelton
J.P. McManus
He wants good ground so he is being rested for the winter. He ran a good race the last day in the Munster National so he’ll be back for Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
TULSA JACK
6yo b g 0/426-410F5438320
Urban Ocean - Jessica’s Pet
Grand Alliance Racing Club
He has been beaten in a few long distance hurdle races but I think he’ll win a race off his mark. He has had a few runs in chases but I thought the handicapper was very hard on him for what he has achieved. He needs to brush up on his jumping to have any chance of winning a chase but I think there is a race or two to be won with him. He does want good ground.
VERY WOOD
6yo b g 211/12531-61PP
Martaline - Ball Of Wood
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a bit of an odd horse. We were delighted with the way he started off over fences but then he just didn’t seem to want to know. He has had all sorts of tests done on him, but we have found nothing. I think he is in better form now and he has two entries at Cheltenham and we’ll see a bit closer to the time. The lad that rides him out at home is much happier with him. He will need to show us a bit more though to warrant a trip back there this year.
VIRTUOSO ROUGE
6yo b g 2-0425
Laveron - Prompt
Gigginstown House Stud
He is a disappointing horse and he pulls out in the morning a bit stiff - hence his jumping is not great. He wouldn’t want the ground bottomless but he should win a race over a trip.
WAXIES DARGLE
6yo b g 18/461P-5531F
Sakhee - Cup of Love
J.P. McManus
He got a very bad fall in the Boylesports but he was fine after that - he is better than the lad that was riding him (Paul). He will probably get into the County Hurdle but we’ll see how he is a bit closer to the time and J.P. will have other horses entered in that as well. There is Fairyhouse and Punchestown to consider as well.
WES HARDIN
6yo b g 3-4
Beneficial - Luas Luso
J. Hunt
I probably rushed it a bit with him. He ran well in what was a good race that last day and I know Willie is thinking of running the winner at Cheltenham. He was just a bit short going to Fairyhouse. He ran poor enough the first day but I’d forgive him that run. He is not a bad horse and I think he can win a bumper.
WILDEBEEST
6yo b g 6-4130
Oscar - Cailin’s Princess
Mrs Patricia Hunt
I have had his wind done so hopefully that will help him. He disappointed the last day and maybe that was the reason for that performance. He won his bumper well and he has been placed over hurdles but I’d say that he does want soft ground.
WOUNDED WARRIOR
6yo b g 1/31144-F22131
Shantou - Sparkling Sword
Gigginstown House Stud
We were thrilled with him the last day and he didn’t surprise me. What surprised me a bit more were some of his runs before that. Naas and the longer trip may have suited him a bit better than Limerick. The ground was atrocious at Limerick and he probably didn’t jump that well out of the ground down there. He is a big raw horse and he is only six. He is entered at Cheltenham in the two staying chases. I have always thought the world of him and the handicapper put him up 10lbs for winning the last day. He can only improve and I would doubt it if he will run again before Cheltenham. He has come out of Naas in really good shape. Gordon has always said that he wants it really soft.
ZIGGER ZAGGER
6yo b g 410780-3455
Mountain High - Main Suspect
Peter M. Law
He has been disappointing. It is hard to know what to make of him and maybe he doesn’t want the ground as bad as it is. He has an entry in Dundalk on Friday and he won his bumper well. I still think that he is capable of winning a handicap hurdle. We’ll see how Friday goes.
ZIP WYATT
6yo ch g -2
Beneficial - Tricky Present
Noel Meade
He had a lovely run last year but then he pulled a muscle behind and that held us up a bit. He missed Leopardstown as well but he is a nice horse and he’ll start back in another bumper. We’ll see how that goes but the likelihood is that he will go back over hurdles after that.
He runs on Sunday and in time, he will make into a nice staying chaser.