WHEN the unraced Familiar Dreams was offered for sale at the 2022 Tattersalls July Sale, her owner and breeder, Meon Valley Stud, might well have anticipated that she would end up with a flat breeder, coming as she does from one of their outstanding female lines.

Instead, she cost trainer Anthony McCann 4,000gns, and she was given time to fully mature. Last year she raced five times in bumpers, always showing ability, but she failed to have her head in from where it matters most. That said, one of her three runners-up efforts was running second to the smart The Yellow Clay in the Listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion INH Flat Race at Limerick.