…W Mullins;
Champ K; ‘We’re not sure about him. He appeared to be brought down on the flat at Christmas but was working well and I’d say I ran him back too early at Tramore and that backfired on us. On form and on this ground, he’s going to have to find a bit to be involved.’
GW; ‘He put in a good performance in the King George at Kempton but I think he’s better than that. He has a mixed record around this track, but I feel these very testing conditions might suit him. He has a tendency to jump right which ordinarily wouldn’t suit around here however in these conditions it might. He goes there very fit and well.’
F2F; ‘We will have to draw a line through his run in Kempton where he took no part from early doors for whatever reason. He has to put that behind him however I felt we needed to get this run into him in preparation for Cheltenham. I’m not sure these very heavy conditions will suit him but he takes his chance.’
GDC; ‘We have a strong hand for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup but the first horse who comes to mind for it is Galopin Des Champs. He had a tough race over Christmas, and I hope that doesn’t leave its mark, but he loves this ground and track. He has a lot of things going for him providing that last race didn’t take too much out of him. He’s been doing everything nicely at home since.’
Grangeclare; ‘Brian Hayes rides. He has every chance going on his Grand National third and also his run in the Savills. He’s another who’s going to be there or thereabouts at the second last and hopefully he can finish off as well as he did at Christmas as that would put him right in the money.’
IAM; ‘Ran a cracker at Christmas and might have been a shade unlucky. I think these testing conditions over this trip will suit him really well, and we were lucky enough to get the services of Jack Kennedy. He’s not one you could leave out of any calculations on that last run.’
Lecky; ‘Another with credentials for a top-half-dozen finish.’
Spindleberry; ‘She has a bit to find on ratings however it’s there to be found. She has won a Grade One over two-and-a-half miles and has good form at up to two miles six. This is her first time beyond that trip and with her pedigree and the way she finishes out her races, there’s every reason to think she could improve again over a longer trip.
So those who are following her, I wouldn’t be putting them off. I think she has every chance of getting a top three finish with the anticipated improvement over the longer trip in these conditions.’
