FACTFILE
Trainer: Robbie Hennessy
Address: Bodeen, Ratotah Co Meath.
Telephone: 0868130732
RUBI Light hinted that there is a good day in him, after he chased home Sir Des Champs at Thurles last month. The 10-year-old has a few options over Christmas and he is the star of the show at Robbie Hennessy’s yard, which is based just a few miles outside Ratoath.
The former Grade 1 winner has dropped to an attractive mark over fences and if he gets his preferred testing ground, there remains every chance that he could turn up in the Paddy Power Chase.
“I was delighted with him at Thurles. He always runs well fresh, but he proved that day that he is on the way back. He is not getting any younger, but it was a very encouraging effort and he will run somewhere over the Christmas,” reported Hennessy who added that former champion hurdler Sublimity is back riding out and is thoroughly enjoying his retirement.
DYLROW
5yo b g (43-3224)
Kalanisi - Maplewell
W. Hennessy
My father has bought him and he will make into a lovely chaser next year. He could run at the weekend at Fairyhouse. He will remain over hurdles and he is handicapped as well now, so he will run away in handicaps. He has yet to run a bad race but he won’t be over-raced this season as I think that he will make into a much better horse when he goes over fences.
GOLD CLASS
4yo ch g NH: (00-8423497) F: (/950148-0
Firebreak - Silken Dalliance
Breads Syndicate
He is a grand, dual-purpose horse that will run away on good ground. He has been placed a few times for the lads that own him and I’d love to win a race with him. He would like a bit of decent ground and he might go somewhere over the Christmas. He will be competitive in his own grade. I ran him at Dundalk, but he didn’t appear to like the surface. He should come into his own on getter ground in the spring.
HERO DE VILLENEUVE
7yo ch g (/110313174-3)
Limnos - The Last Dream
W. Hennessy
He is a lovely big horse that won four for us last year. He was operated on for a kissing spine but on his first run back this year, he got a bit of a leg so we had to give him some time off. He is back on the walker and we’ll try and have him back early in the New Year. There should be more races to be won with him. He is a huge, big horse and looked weak last year, but the time off should stand to him. Three miles on nice ground is what he wants. We will look at a few races in England/Scotland for him again.
MAGNETIC FORCE
8yo gr g NH: (648-6645550) F: (/4/610-72126)
Verglas - Upperville
Round Table Gang Syndicate
He is a grand horse that wins a race or two for us every year. He will run away on the flat/over hurdles and fences on good ground. He is owned by lads that have been with me since I started and he should pay his way again next year.
MISTER FIRST
9yo b g (/067444-21564)
Trempolino - Queen Running
W. Hennessy
He is a great jumper and is as genuine as you’ll get, but he just doesn’t find a lot off the bridle. He loves soft ground and he could go to Leopardstown for a chase there at Christmas time - he has a few options. Anywhere from two and a half to three miles is fine for him. He ran in the Topham at Aintree a couple of years ago and if his rating improved, long term he could go back there, as he is such a good jumper.
PERSHING
4yo gr g NH: (69-5525364) F: (2326-755)
Mount Nelson - La Gandilie
W.ted
Hennessy
He was free and keen when he came to us from Marco Botti’s yard. We have given him a break and if he learned to settle a bit better there are races to be won with him. The rest will do him good and I don’t think he has been out in a field at this time of the year before. He is very hard on himself and if he could only learn to relax a bit, he’ll be fine.
RUBI LIGHT
10yo b g (/545211U-72)
Network - Genny Lights
W. Hennessy
He has been a great horse for us. I was delighted with his first run back at Thurles and he showed that bit of sparkle that was missing for the last couple of seasons. He has come out of the race in great form and he has a couple of options at Leopardstown - he is in the Dial-A-Bet and is also in the Paddy Power. There is also a listed chase for him at Tramore. We’ll see a bit closer to the time as the softer the ground the better for him. He is back bouncing again and long term, we might look at something like the Topham at Aintree. He is a huge big horse and having to carry top-weight in the Paddy Power won’t be a problem for him - it is the fact that we have to give the weight away is the concern there.
SANTO PRINCE
5yo b g NH: (3603541) F: (38/0-2171)
Henrythenavigator - Sally Wood
Anthony Paul Kelly
He is another summer horse that is on a break. He is a good ground horse and he has won his last two races for us. He will mix it away for the summer and he will come back into training next month. Hopefully there will be more races to be won with him.
SPACE SHIP
5yo ch g NH: (-113732) F: (16206/3468)
Galileo - Angara
W. Hennessy
He didn’t seem to like the surface in Dundalk so we might aim him at a handicap hurdle at Christmas. He is a very good jumper and is one that we might go chasing with later on this season. He has won two hurdle races for us but he likes a bit of nice ground, so we’ll keep an eye on the weather and see what the ground is like, but he could be another that could run for us over the Christmas. There should be more races to be won with him and I think he’ll be competitive off his mark.