THOLM KEANE

Krafty Kannan (ISH), 5yo

Kannan – Krafty Kate

This five-year-old gelding comes from a breeding line close to Tholm Keane’s heart. Bred by his father, Stephen, Krafty Kannan is out of the Diamond Serpent mare Krafty Kate, who herself is out of the Cardinal Flower-sired Cooley, and a full-sister to multiple Grand Prix winner and former national speed champion Krafty Jack, who was also campaigned by Tholm.

Krafty Kannan is a half-brother to Rocksy Music, who, under Richie Moloney, has been performing well at five-star level in the USA, most recently finishing third in a CSI5* Grand Prix in Florida. He is also a half-brother to You Two Kelly, another home-bred by Warrenstown You 2, and Krafty Kitty, by Ars Vivendi.

Skyjack (ISH), 5yo

Z Wellie 72 – Hitachi Hill

Owned and bred by Wesley Smyth from Carlow, the five-year-old gelding Skyjack, by Z Wellie 72 out of the Cloverhill-sired Hitachi Hill (TIH), is another youngster to watch in Keane’s stable. The gelding is a half-brother to Douglas Delight, who is competed by Nina Barbour and Anthony Condon up to CSI2* level.

Galiano (ISH), 5yo

Diamant de Semilly – Allenstown Cavalier

Bred and owned by Meath man Maurice Griffin, the four-year-old gelding Galiano is also showing plenty of scope, according to Keane. He is a full-brother to Allenstown Luidam (by Luidam), who went on to be campaigned by French rider Thelma Biancardi at two-star level. His breeder has five other offspring registered from this mare by Don Juan De La Bouverie, Greenacres Diamond, Pacino, Orestus and Ard Vdl Douglas.

Another one that Keane believes shows a lot of promise is an unnamed four-year-old mare, owned and bred by Michael Ryan. She is by Ars Vivendi out of Holly Dream, by Errigal Flight, with her pedigree featuring traditional breeding lines.

JOHN FLOODY

HTS Carnanbreagha (ISH), 6yo

Sir Shutterfly - Ballybunion Aldatus

Owned by Clare Craig from Co Antrim and bred by Brian Kiernan in Co Louth, the gelding, by Sir Shutterfly out of the Aldatus Z-sired dam Ballybunion Aldatus, has been produced by Floody from the start and the rider believes that he will really step up to the mark this year. Kiernan has two others registered by the dam, a three-year-old colt and yearling filly, both by HTS Blackrock.

Halltown Nala (ISH), 7yo

Kannan – Athea Clover Mist

John Floody is also very optimistic about Louise Musgrave’s seven-year-old Halltown Nala. The mare is by Kannan out of Athea Clover Mist by Clover Clon VII. The dam of this one was campaigned by Floody and later by British-based Trevor Breen at Grand Prix level. Floody believes she has the credentials to follow in her dam’s footsteps and be a top jumping mare.

NICHOLAS BUTLER

Ladycastle Paco (ISH), 6yo

Pacino – Vimminka

Owned by the Ladycastle Syndicate, this six-year-old gelding by Pacino is out of the Nabab de Reve-sired dam Vimminka, who has been a loyal servant to the Butler family with wins for both Nicholas and Alexander at international level at home and abroad. Born via embryo transfer, Vimminka also produced this gelding’s six-year-old full-brother Ladycastle Diego, who is ridden by Alexander. Paco was very lightly campaigned last year by Nicholas, qualifying for Dublin in the five-year-old division and he has high hopes he will go on to impress this season.

LIAM O’MEARA

Imnotafraid Fortuna (KWPN), 6yo

Dallas VDL – Debutante Fortuna

Imnotafraid Fortuna, a six-year-old stallion by Dallas VDL is one that Liam O’Meara feels will do very well this year. He is owned by Jonathan Flynn and is out of the Vingino-sired dam Debutante Fortuna. He was lightly campaigned by O’Meara last year and before this was seen under young rider Jennifer Kuehnle.

As a four-year-old and under the command of Kuehnle, the stallion was chosen by judges Marion Hughes, Ger O’Neill and Greg Broderick as the young horse champion at the Irish Breeders’ Classic.

He is a stallion that has not been rushed and should feature in more line-ups this year.

Sir Jim Jim (ISH), 4yo

Boherdael Clover – Glenaguile Flight

O’Meara also has a nice four-year old traditional Irish colt who he bred himself by Boherdeal Clover out of the Errigal Flight-sired dam Glenaguile Flight. This year he will be at stud as well as being lightly campaigned. Boherdael Clover has an impressive record. He was leased to the Army Equitation School by his owner Padraic Coonan and was ridden by Captain David O’Brien with tremendous success.

Big Dan Du Rouet, 4yo

Querlybet Hero – Glenaguile Rose

O’Meara also has the four-year-old stallion Big Dan Du Rouet, a full horse, by Querlbyet Hero out of the Harlequin Du Carel dam Glenaguile Rose. Bred by Michael J Ryan in Co Tipperary, the stallion is a half-brother to the seven-year-old mare Could be Anything (by Olympic Lux), who has moved up to 1.35m level under Shannon MacKenzie. This stallion already has yearlings on the ground and has close to 25 foals due this year. We will see him out towards the middle of the season as Liam O’Meara hopes to campaign him in the four-year old classes.

JESSICA BURKE

CHF Miss Stetter (ISH), 4yo

Stetter – Puma Cruise

Galway show jumper Jessica Burke is no stranger to success in the young horse arena and this year she has a few home-bred horses to introduce to the circuit. Burke is excited about the four-year-old mare CHF Miss Stetter, by Stetter out of the Cougar mare Puma Cruise, who has six other progeny registered on the Irish Horse Register. They include a three-year-old mare by Greenvale Draco, that she rode for the late Calvin McDonald, and a two-year-old by the traditional Irish Sport Horse stallion Castlelawn Captain Junior, the horse she partnered to win the six-year-old championship in Dublin in 2018.

CHF Camillo Spring (ISH), 4yo

Camillo VDL – Super Spring

CHF Camillo Spring also looks a very nice prospect, according to the rider and breeder. A gelding by Camillo VDL out of the Ramiro B-sired Super Spring, the chesnut is a half-brother to CHF Super Classe (by Classe VDL), that she qualified for Dublin last August as a four-year-old. He is a half-brother to CHF Cooliser, by Womaniser, who is eventing at three-star level in America. Burke believes that he will really shine towards the end of year.

CHF Kenavo (ISH), 4yo

Ard VDL Douglas – Amanda 202

Another one to watch in this stable is CHF Kenavo, who was also bred by Burke, by the popular sire Ard Vdl Douglas out of her good Grand Prix mare Amanda 202 (by Argentinus). The Burkes have bred five others from the mare who was campaigned successfully up to Grand Prix level.

HADLEY SPORT HORSES

HSH Harper Du Seigneur (ISH), 4yo

Aganix du Seigneur – Covers Chip

Bred at his base in Craughwell, Co Galway, Sven Hadley is looking forward to getting his four-year-old stallion HSH Harper Du Seigneur out to shows. He is by Aganix Du Seigneur out of the Chippson-sired Covers Chip, that Hadley campaigned up to 1.30m on the national circuit and at CSIYH1* on the continent. Hadley reports he is already showing great promise and will be lightly campaigned this season while remaining entire.

PADDY O’ DONNELL

Greannanstown Rich Girl (ISH), 4yo

OBOS Quality 004 - Greannanstown Rich Clover Girl

Waterford’s Paddy O’Donnell is excited to campaign the four-year-old mare Greannanstown Rich Girl this season. Bred by John Flynn from Tipperary, she is by OBOS Quality 004 out of the Rich Rebel mare Greannanstown Rich Clover Girl. O’Donnell bought the mare from the breeder last August and reports she is a lovely type with great breeding, blood, quality and a lot of scope. He plans to aim her at the Dublin qualifiers, as he feels that she is more than ready for the season ahead.

DEREK AND SHARON MCCONNELL

This couple have had much success in the young horse classes, and they are looking forward to campaigning two four-year-olds in 2019. Both horses are owned by Sorcha Hennessy, who has been a loyal owner to the couple for many years. The O’Connells have campaigned young horses such as Izzy (KWPN) for Hennessy with much success.

Domino LVS Z (ZANG), 4yo

Diamant de Semilly – Wonder Why

Derek will campaign the four-year- old Zangersheide stallion Domino LVS Z. Bred by Heritage Bloodstock, he is by Diamant De Semilly out of the Cento-sired dam Wonder Why. He certainly seems to have all the credentials and is related to Beezie Madden’s famous horse Simon through his second dam Naline. He is a half-brother to LVS Heartache (by Heartbreaker), who was campaigned by Michael Duffy and more recently Peter Smith. He is also a half-brother to LVS Shelby (by Clinton) who was ridden by Rosalie Biedron (USA).

Old Rock Candy (ISH), 4yo

Sligo Candy Boy – Old Rock Girl

The couple will also produce Old Rock Candy, a four-year-old mare by Sligo Candy Boy out of Old Rock Girl. Bred by Don Coen in Co Sligo, Hennessy bought the mare at the elite sale in Monart last Novemeber.