The leading National Hunt trainer reflect on a positive weekend of racing and looks ahead to another busy week.
Weekend reflection
I was delighted with the across-the-card treble over the weekend.
Lamanver Odyssey made amends for her run her last time out in the Mares’ Final at Newbury in March, where Noel Fehily thought she’d have gone very close if she hadn’t nearly run out.
It was a very valuable prize in the end for Lamanver Odyssey thanks to the TBA’s (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association) MOPS scheme (National Hunt Mare Owners’ Prize Scheme) , which rewards all of those involved with an extra £10,000 – it’s a great incentive to own and race mares.”
There are a number of good mares’ races out there now. We’re looking forward to seeing how far she can climb up the ladder and possibly get some black type for her in the spring too.
It was a very good 24 hours for both us and the owner/breeder, Dr Donna Christensen, as Lady Of Lamanver, a sister to Lamanver Odyssey, won on the Friday at Fontwell too.
Saturday was the ideal race to start the season with for Unowhatimeanharry. He did, as he always does, just enough.
I think that will put him spot on for Newbury in three weeks’ time. We’ll be looking at a similar campaign to last season as the races seem to pick themselves from here on in.
It’s great to have him back in the winning groove and it’s onwards and upwards from here.
Wincanton on Saturday was a lovely introduction for Caribert – as good a debut as we could have hoped for.
He’d been going very well at home, but you never know whether they’re going to go out and do it on the track.
He’s a lovely horse. We’ll probably look to go for another bumper under a penalty and then possibly a valuable sales bumper in the spring. Looking further ahead, he’s definitely built for chasing.
It’s very exciting times for the owners, who now have two very smart four-year-olds on their hands as they also own Bullionaire. He’s set to reappear at Ascot before Christmas in a Listed bumper.
Thankfully there’s nothing amiss with Fletchers Flyer. He’s just getting that little bit older now and needs some help from the handicapper.
It was too tight a track for him and he just couldn’t settle and get into a rhythm. He stays really well and probably wants three and a half miles.
Highlights this week
Onefortheroadtom goes to Worcester on Tuesday. He’s unbeaten and the form of his last race is working out well, but he has to give weight away.
Barry Geraghty is in the plate and I’ll be interested to hear his thoughts on the horse.
It’s off to Bangor on Wednesday with If The Cap Fits. He’s got a penalty to concede but hopefully he can keep progressing.
We’re keen to run him on better ground. He’s still quite raw and we don’t want to run him on ground worse than good-to-soft.
He won on his reappearance at Exeter and the third horse has since come out and won so the form of that race looks good.
I’m also looking forward to Cockney Wren on Thursday. She ran very well to finish third on her return in Listed company on her hurdle debut.
I think she’ll be quite hard to beat in this mares’ maiden hurdle.
Kylemore Lough has been confirmed for Cheltenham on Saturday. That’s been the plan for him ever since he came over from Kerry Lee’s yard.
He’s been grafting away at home and we’re looking forward to his stable debut.
He’s got a fair amount of weight to shoulder but he’s a high-class horse.
