STUMPTOWN

He has plenty of weight to carry in the Cross Country. We knew he was going to have top-weight after winning the Pardubicka. It is a high mark - I wouldn’t like to see him running in a handicap chase off it, he would be lapped. But he is very effective in this discipline so he has to have his chance. We have Vanillier in it too. He won a banks’ race at Punchestown on his latest run. With a bit of ease in the ground, he should run well. If Final Orders got a bit of nice ground he could run well.

BOYCETOWN

He won an ordinary Down Royal bumper on St Stephen’s Day. He has taken a step forward from that. I am not saying he is going to win but he can run well.

ONLY BY NIGHT

The favourite Dinoblue is a very good mare and Only By Night isn’t certain to stay the two and a half miles of the Mares’ Chase but the day I ran her in a Grade 2 chase at Cork over two miles, I couldn’t believe how well she won. She jumped so well, she kept herself in the race. We kept her at two miles then but I do think she will stay, though you don’t know for sure until you try.

THE PASSING WIFE

When Vaniller won the Albert Bartlett for us in 2021 he had the same rating as The Passing Wife has now. He also has the option of the Martin Pipe but I am tempted by the Albert Bartlett. He should suit the race, being an older, hardened horse who has won three bumpers and been around a while. We won’t make a decision until we have to.

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN

It’s obvious we have had a terrible season with him so far. I thought he was actually running an okay race in the Irish Gold Cup. I expected him to get tired but getting a fall wasn’t ideal. He jumped up onto the lorry afterwards and was fine the next day. He hasn’t put a foot wrong since then but he will have to keep doing it all the way to the race.

HANDICAPS

Secret Force might struggle to get into the Fred Winter but I hope he does, he is going well. Yeah Man was second in a Pertemps qualifier at Christmas, probably should have won.

He should get into the race and the hill will suit him. He should run well. We will also run Addragoole in the Grand Annual.

He won at Leopardstown at Christmas then was third at the DRF. Again, a bit of nicer ground will suit him. Hello Neighbour has a nice enough weight in the County Hurdle, and is a Grade 1 winner in a handicap. A strong traveller, he is a very slick jumper and should run well.

Gavin Cromwell was speaking at a preview night at Mernagh’s Bar in Oylegate, Co Wexford, last Friday. The event was in aid of Spina Bifida Centre Wexford and Child Vision Jack de Bromhead Centre in Drumcondra