Mousey Brown caused her second big upset in the space of two weeks when winning the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final at Fairyhouse.
A winner at Down Royal at 25-1 last time out, she was sent off at 33-1 on this occasion for Dermot McLoughlin and Conor Maxwell.
The Gold Cup-winning team of owner Audrey Turley, Willie Mullins and Paul Townend looked sure to collect with Olympic Man when he took the final flight in front, but Mousey Brown stayed on strongly to get home by half a length.
“Everyone said she was lucky the last day in Down Royal but she was nearly knocked down and still won,” said McLoughlin.
“As Conor said, she’s very tough. She wasn’t enjoying the ground but from the back of the last she came home well. He said she started pricking her ears and looking around her.
“It was a good performance in a good race. I thought it might be a bit soon bringing her back after Down Royal, as it was only 13 days.
“She’s hardy, Conor said it’s hard work out there but she’s game.
“I like her, she had to do a lot of work from where she was there, but kept going. She’s a big, strong mare.”
Effernock Fizz was a game winner of the RYBO Handicap Hurdle, also at 33-1.
Having built up a big lead at one stage, she looked sure to be swallowed up at the second last but found plenty on the rail to fend off Conyers Hill for Cian Collins and jockey Carl Millar.
Collins said: “That’s unbelievable, she has the heart of a lion.
“She’s a mare that wants good to firm ground-wise. On the ground, I didn’t think it would happen today at all, I thought she might even pull up on heavy ground.
“She gave me my first two winners and that’s my 20th today. I thought she was gone turning in but she just doesn’t know when to quit. It’s crazy.
“I was very lucky to get her. She just suits the way we train them, I keep her fresh. I actually ride her out every day myself, she’s always in great form and is a pleasure to have. She tries her heart out every day and just loves racing.
“I think we might go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle now. That’s the plan and we’ll probably go straight there, as it’s in a couple of weeks’ time. That’s her 96th run today and her 10th win.”
Mullins and Townend also had to settle for second best in the Listed-class BoyleSports Mares Handicap Chase with Instit after Ardera Ru finished well to prevail by three and threequarter lengths at 18-1 for trainer Eoin Doyle.
Winning rider Shane O’Callaghan said: “She was brilliant. The plan was to drop in, creep around and try to sneak a bit of black-type.
“It’s the best she’s ever jumped for me, she jumped fantastic everywhere and cruised into it very easily.”
Anthony McCann looks to have a hot prospect on his hands after Familiar Dreams galloped on strongly to complete a hat-trick in the closing Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares’ INH Flat Race at 13-2 under Aine O’Connor.
The five-year-old was giving weight away all round due to a double penalty but put in a powerful effort from the front to pull five and a half lengths clear of the Mullins-trained favourite Magic McColgan.
Numitor stayed on strongly to record a decisive success in the valuable Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Finale at Haydock.
Sean Bowen was always travelling strongly on Heather Main’s 10-year-old in the £100,000 contest and sent him on past long-time front-runner Riders Onthe Storm entering the home straight.
A couple of sketchy jumps at the next two fences allowed the chasing pack to close in, but the 100-30 favourite got his act together over the last couple of obstacles and galloped clear to beat Dubai Days by five lengths.
Numitor only recently returned to action after a 340-day lay-off, when finishing fourth at Exeter under Bowen’s brother James.
Championship chaser Bowen told Racing TV: “One thing he did benefit from is that James didn’t knock him around once he was beaten (first time out), he didn’t use his whip once and I think that’s probably been a massive contribution towards winning here.
“James said to keep sending him, but every time I sent him, he put down. But he was a good old spin.
“He’s actually not in love with that ground now and I think that on better ground, you probably can send him from anywhere – he’ll keep coming for you.
“But today, on that ground, he’s probably not in love with it – but he’s a tough horse and keeps going through anything.”
Bowen was also in the saddle as Secret Trix plugged on to get the better of Doughmore Bay in an attritional finish to the New Racing TV App Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle.
It was a fourth win of the season for Olly Murphy’s gelding, all gained under the title-chasing jockey, as he prevailed by a length and a quarter at 11-1 following a winter lay-off since the end of October.
Bowen said: “He felt a lot better horse today, he obviously benefited from the break massively. At every point today, I thought I was going to win, apart from when he started pulling up half a furlong from home.
“I was going well turning in and I didn’t really want him to wing three out and two out, as he doesn’t do a whole pile in front, although he was a bit slower than I thought he might be at them. But he went round like the best horse in the race, to be fair.”
Brentford Hope defied top weight in the My Pension Expert Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle, holding off the late challenge of Holly, who could never quite recover from a mistake at the final flight.
Harry Derham’s seven-year-old had won well in a qualifier at Newcastle earlier this month and was sent off the 5-2 market leader under Paul O’Brien, despite carrying 12st.
Laurel River turned the Dubai World Cup into a procession when running out a wide-margin winner for local trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O’Shea.
Formerly trained by Bob Baffert, the Juddmonte-owned six-year-old was trying the 10-furlong trip for the first time but with two furlongs to run had the race won.
The likes of Derma Sotogake, Ushba Tesoro, Newgate and Kabirkhan had garnered most of the pre-race talk, with Laurel River almost sneaking in under the radar.
It looked a brave decision to step him up in trip, despite winning a Group Three by almost seven lengths over a mile last time out.
O’Shea was allowed to dictate the race from a long way out and under no pressure, he went further and further clear.
Entering the final furlong, he was still 10 lengths ahead and while Laurel River understandably got tired late on, he crossed the line well ahead of Ushba Tesoro and Senor Buscador.
The winning trainer said: “I would like to thank Juddmonte and His Royal Highness for sending me the horse. I was worried that they might be going too fast but Tadhg got the right fractions and also a breather into him.
“It’s the greatest feeling to have won this race, but what he was doing in the mornings made me think, ‘what has this horse got?’
“There is so much stamina in his pedigree but his training was out of this world.”
O’Shea added: “I tell you one thing, I have never ridden one as good as him. I never dreamed I would win the Dubai World Cup, it really is the stuff of dreams.
“He behaved like a pony; he hit the gates and did everything from the front, it was unbelievable. He gave himself every chance to get the distance, it’s an amazing feeling.”
Jamaica’s Jamelia Young copped the country’s second medal of the 51st edition of the Carifta Games, as she topped rivals in the girls’ Under-17 shot put final at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Saturday.
Young, who is more known for her discus prowess, achieved a winning heave of 14.25m on her fourth attempt, which represents a significant improvement on the 13.33m she threw when winning at the trials.
The 16-year-old Clarendon College standout won ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Peyton Winter (14.21m) and Terrell McCoy (14.11m) of the Bahamas.
Jamaica heads the medal standing with two gold medals so far, as Zavien Bernard also topped the girls’ Under-17 high jump final.
Antigua and Barbuda have one gold courtesy of Maleik Francis’s record-breaking win in the boys’ Under-17 javelin throw, while Trinidad and Tobago (one silver and one bronze), Bahamas (one silver and one bronze), St Kitts and Nevis (one silver) and Grenada (one bronze), also secured medals in the opening session.
The evening session is scheduled to begin with the Opening Ceremony at 1:30pm Jamaica time.
The Carifta Games are being broadcast live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
Rebel’s Romance caused a surprise in the Dubai Sheema Classic, in which dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin finished last.
While Charlie Appleby’s six-year-old did win the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2022, he was well beaten in the corresponding race 12 months ago and looked to be up against it in a field stacked with quality.
Along with Auguste Rodin, who is developing an all-or-nothing reputation, there was Emily Upjohn, Spirit Dancer and Japanese challengers Liberty Island and Stars On Earth.
The pace was pedestrian, set by Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale, but only William Buick on the eventual winner and Liberty Island were keen to stay close to it.
With half a mile to run, that trio had opened up a sizeable gap on the remainder of the field and when Buick kicked on to take up the running well over a furlong out, the writing was on the wall.
A strong stayer at the trip, Rebel’s Romance, who won the UAE Derby back in 2021, galloped all the way to the line, with Shahryar, Liberty Island and Justin Palace, all from Japan, taking minor honours. Emily Upjohn fared best of the rest just behind but Auguste Rodin offered nothing.
Appleby said: “He’d won a Breeders’ Cup Turf and four Group Ones, yet he was 20-1, which showed just how deep a race it was.
“William told me he had a plan but I told him not to tell me, then I couldn’t roast him if it went wrong!
“We were confident the right thing to do was go forward and heading down the back, I felt confident because I knew the fractions weren’t strong.
“William knows this track so well and did everything right.
“To have a winner tonight, on what has been a really international night, to get one on the board for Godolphin and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is very pleasing.”
The Newmarket handler added: “It was our last throw of the darts, but we were confident he was in as good a place as we could get him. He went to Kempton and then had a great ride in Qatar from William.
“He has travelled a lot but we were confident he was at his best. Plan A was to go forward to give the horse the best chance to run his best race.
“This whole night is a huge space in the racing calendar that everyone will aim for. You’ve got to look after these horses and make sure you don’t give them one race too many.
“We toyed with the Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong next, but we will enjoy today and he deserves a bit of a rest.”
Buick commented: “He showed in Qatar that he can still perform from the front or close to it. He has a big stride and we decided to get across and somewhere near the action. We were given an easy lead off easy fractions. I was surprised he was in his comfort zone, going easily.”
Facteur Cheval just held off the late lunge of Japanese challenger Namur to win the Dubai Turf, in which Lord North was unplaced in search of his fourth win in the race.
Trained in France by Jerome Reynier, the winner was last seen finishing second to his compatriot Big Rock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.
It has previously been suggested that Facteur Cheval needed soft ground to be seen at his best, as he arguably showed his top form in testing conditions when second to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes, but he showed his versatility on this occasion.
Hollie Doyle somehow managed to get Nashwa to the front from her wide draw in stall 14 but with a furlong to run, she had run her race.
Her John and Thady Gosden stablemate Lord North looked threatening at one point but age may have finally caught up with the eight-year-old as he found disappointingly little.
Measured Time burst through with a challenge on the inside and briefly hit the front but Facteur Cheval and Namur came powering down the centre of the track.
The pair crossed the line together but it was Facteur Cheval and Maxime Guyon who got the verdict on the nod.
“He’s amazing because he’s just as good when the ground is heavy or soft,” said Guyon
“But he’s never been the same as he was today. The turn of foot he showed was better than he’s ever shown.”
In the closing stages, Christophe Lemaire suffered a nasty fall from Catnip and was stretchered off the track and taken to hospital for observation.
Antigua & Barbuda’s Maliek Francis is the first record-breaker at the 51st Carifta Games after producing a dominant performance on the way to gold in the Under-17 Boys Javelin at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Saturday.
Francis had fairly moderate throws of 54.06m and 58.70m in the first two rounds before unleashing a record-breaking 68.84m in the third round.
He produced a second throw north of 60m, 62.39m to be exact, in round five on the way to a comfortable victory on day one of the meet.
St. Kitts & Nevis’ Jaheem Clarke threw 56.09m for silver while Grenada’s Delorn John threw 54.70m for bronze.
The previous record 64.31 was done by Bahamian KeyShawn Strachan in 2019.
The Carifta Games are being broadcast live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
Forever Young booked his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a smooth success in the UAE Derby.
Advertising once again Japan’s standing on the world stage, Forever Young was following up his victory in the Saudi Derby last time out.
His sights will now be set on the Race For The Roses after he wore down Auto Bahn close home to win with authority for Yoshito Yahagi, no stranger to winning on Dubai World Cup night after his treble two years ago.
Yahagi explained how it was a poignant success: “This is after my master trainer my father passed away this morning.
“He is potentially very high class and he did not enjoy the travel to Saudi but he still performed very well.
“He travelled better to Dubai. I really believe my team will keep him in good order to go for the Kentucky Derby.”
Winning jockey Ryusei Sakai added: “His condition has improved since Saudi. I really trusted him to perform to his best today.
“I believe this horse is unbeatable at the moment. A lot of good owners and trainers have given me good opportunities, like they did on this horse.”
Ryan Moore almost pulled up Henry Adams, who failed to face the kickback, while stablemate Navy Seal finished fifth under Wayne Lordan.
The Godolphin Mile went the way of outsider Two Rivers Over for Doug O’Neill and Edwin Maldonado, in which Simon and Ed Crisford’s Swing Vote finished eighth.
“Turning for home, I was trying to get him out and in the clear,” said Maldonado.
“This means such a lot, I’m super grateful to the owners and couldn’t ask for more.”
Tadhg O’Shea was seen to great effect on Tuz in the Golden Shaheen.
O’Shea, who has made a great career for himself in the UAE, won the race two years ago on Switzerland and was a nose from victory last year on the same horse when beaten by Sibelius.
Japan’s Don Frankie made a bold bid but O’Shea spied a gap up the rail and Tuz quickened up in impressive fashion to run out a wide-margin winner.
“This makes up for a narrow defeat last year in a race that’s been lucky for me,” said the jockey. “He needed his race last time but put this to bed in a matter of strides. Back in his own back yard, he was a different horse tonight.”
Paddy Twomey’s One Look maintained her unbeaten record with a workmanlike display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race at Cork.
Sent off the prohibitively priced 1-20 favourite to beat four rivals, she did so with the minimum of fuss but failed to shake up the ante-post Classic markets.
Having won the Goffs Million on her racecourse debut, the daughter of Gleneagles went into the winter as a big fancy for the 1000 Guineas.
Twomey carefully selected her reappearance run and her starting price suggested the calibre of opposition she was up against, although in the heavy ground, Billy Lee had to shake her up.
While she ultimately won by three lengths, Coral left her unchanged at 9-1 for the Newmarket Classic.
“She did exactly what we were hoping she would do. We got her out, got her some exercise and education and it has gone to plan, so I’m very happy,” said Twomey.
“We had the plan in our head that we were coming (regardless of the heavy ground), she settled and quickened and it was pretty straightforward. I don’t think I’ve trained many 1-20 shots!
“That was her first piece of work for the year, so we’ll sit down and make a plan. We have a couple of more fillies to run, so we will see where we go but she is in the Irish, English, French and German Guineas.
“If she runs in Newmarket (English 1000 Guineas), she would go straight there, but if she runs in Ireland, she might run again.
“She is a lovely-actioned filly, was ready to run today and I think she’ll progress plenty.”
There was a mild surprise in the opening Welcome To The Racing Home For Easter Festival 2024 Fillies’ Maiden, which went the way of Johnny Murtagh’s debutante Wide With Delight (20-1).
Winning jockey Shane B Kelly said: “She is a lovely filly with a really good attitude. Her work has been good at home but we thought she might need the run. I’d say she isn’t too bad.
“We hacked early in the race and I took back to be behind Colin (Keane, on favourite National Lady), as he would bring me where I needed to be if mine was good enough – and it worked out well.
“She pricked her ears out of greenness and had a good look around but she was still going forward. She was a lovely ride, has a great attitude and is really likeable.”
While it was not her most fluent series of jumps, Zavien Bernard held her composure well enough to cop Jamaica’s first gold medal of the 51st Carifta Games, as she topped the Under-17 girls’ high jump at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada on Saturday.
Bernard, who entered the Games in superb form after clearing 1.83m to win gold at the recently-concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, couldn’t replicate that clearance, but did enough to finish tops in the end.
After failing first time at 1.55m, the 15-year-old Bernard got into rhythm and had first time clearance at 1.60m, 1.65m, 1.68m, with the winning leap coming first time at 1.71m. She later failed in her attempt at 1.74m.
“I am extremely happy because this is my first time representing the national team. It’s a bit disappointing that I didn’t go higher, but I had to pull myself together because I knew my team needed this. The other competitors pushed me a little, but I am used to this, and I actually expected myself to win this event,” Bernard, who attends Hydel High said after the victory.
The Jamaican faced stiffed competition from silver medallist Alexandria Komolafe (1.71m), who cleared all the heights on her first attempt and seemed well on her way to victory, before she clipped the bar first time at 1.71m, which opened the door for Bernard to snatch victory.
Tenique Vincent of Trinidad and Tobago was third with a clearance at 1.68m.
The Carifta Games are being broadcast live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.
After missing out on their Copa America dream, Trinidad and Tobago’s Shannon Gomez is hoping they will have better fortunes in bringing their 2026 FIFA World Cup vision to fruition. However, he quickly pointed out that it will require players maintaining their work rate and never-say-die attitude to make it possible.
Gomez’s views came as he reflected on the tremendous work rate and commitment the Soca Warriors displayed throughout the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League A campaign, which recently ended in a 0-2 play-in defeat to Canada in Frisco, Texas.
Though that loss denied them a coveted spot in the prestigious CONMEBOL Copa America tournament, Gomez, a defender, took heart from the overall Nations League outing and views it as a solid platform on which they can build heading into the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in June.
“We need to stay focused on what’s next for T&T football. (We have to) think about the things we (dreamt) of as kids, and being able to qualify for a World Cup will be a massive achievement. There are no words to describe what that will mean for T&T and what it will mean for us as well,” Gomez said in a video interview with Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) media.
“Nobody goes out onto the field thinking that they are not going to win the game. We went to win the game and we had the opportunity to win the game. But overall, it’s about reflecting and taking the positives out of the game to push forward and continue producing great results for T&T,” he added as he reflected on the Canada defeat.
The Angus Eve-coached Soca Warriors are drawn in Group B for the second round of World Cup qualifiers, alongside Bahamas, Costa Rica, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis. The top two teams in the group will advance to the final round where 12 teams will be split into three groups of four.
The teams will play six matches on a home-and-away basis, with the three group winners gaining automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by Concacaf powerhouses Canada, Mexico and United States. The two best second-placed teams will then advance to an intercontinental playoff to fight for two World Cup spots.
Qualification would be the twin island republic’s second appearance at the global showpiece and Gomez is optimistic that the Soca Warriors will continue to improve both technically and tactically to accomplish the feat.
“For me personally, it’s about strengthening our strengths and working on our weaknesses to strengthen them as well,” the 27-year-old San Antonio FC player said.
“I think just focusing on that and keeping that as the focal point of the camp and from the top come down with TTFA and the continued support from the T&T fans. That will be the best thing moving forward and to be able to pick up some massive results coming up in the World Cup qualifiers,” he ended.
The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Selection Panel has announced the 15-member squad for the tour to Pakistan in April-May. The eight-match Series comprises three (5) T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three (3) One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Kate Wilmott was rewarded with a call-up to the senior team for the first time, having displayed commendable performances with her right-arm medium pace during the recently concluded CG United Women’s Super50 Cup and T20 Blaze tournaments.
Qiana Joseph and Chedean Nation, who also had credible performances were recalled to the team, having missed out on the last tour to Australia in 2023.
Lead Selector for Women’s cricket Ann Browne-John said “The upcoming series against is extremely important for the team as they return to international competition after almost six months, the last series being against Australia. Apart from the three ODI, the team will get some much-needed T20 matches as they prepare to participate in the T20 World Cup later this year.”
Browne-John added, “The return of experienced player Chedean Nation will strengthen the batting and 19-year-old Fast Bowler Kate Wilmott will be making her debut. The players have just completed the regional tournament where some of the experienced players had encouraging performances, and it is hoped this will continue into the Pakistan series.”
Following the ODI Series, a gripping five-match T20I series will unfold from 26 April to 3 May. This T20I series will not only offer thrilling cricket action for fans but will provide important competitive cricket for both teams to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, which is due to take place after the Women’s CPL in Bangladesh in September.
The West Indies Women will assemble in Dubai from 6 April for a one-week training camp as part of their preparations for the upcoming Pakistan tour.
Full Squad
West Indies Women Tour to Pakistan Schedule
All matches to be played at National Bank Stadium (NBS), Karachi
6-14 April – Pre-Tour Preparation Training Camp, Dubai
14 April - West Indies Women arrive in Karachi
18 April - 1st ODI, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi (ICC Women’s Championship)
21 April - 2nd ODI, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi (ICC Women’s Championship)
23 April - 3rd ODI, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi (ICC Women’s Championship)
26 April - 1st T20I, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi
28 April - 2nd T20I, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi
30 April - 3rd T20I, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi
2 May - 4th T20I, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi
3 May - 5th T20I, Pakistan v West Indies, NBS, Karachi
Hong Kong star California Spangle shattered the track record when seeing off Star Of Mystery and Diligent Harry in a red-hot Al Quoz Sprint.
Trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the six-year-old has spent the majority of his career racing over seven furlongs and a mile and even finished second in the 2022 Hong Kong Derby over 10 furlongs behind Romantic Warrior.
He has locked horns with Golden Sixty on many occasions but having his first start over six furlongs since January 2022, he displayed blistering speed.
The winner was never far from the pace but had Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry for company for most of it.
California Spangle’s superior stamina kicked in close home as he stamped his authority on the contest, as Charlie Appleby’s three-year-old filly Star Of Mystery made late headway under Frankie Dettori to beat Diligent Harry for second.
“We came here knowing we had a good chance,” said Cruz.
“But we also knew that giving 13lb to Star Of Mystery would be tough. When he hits the front, nothing can catch him, and we were all over the moon when he took the lead.
“He broke a record on his debut over 1,000 metres (five furlongs), then we stretched him out to a mile, but in this 1200m you have to run at 1400m to win it.
“He’s a horse I think that can go places. I believe his ability is better than the others. It’s 10th time lucky for me in Dubai.”
Cox was understandably delighted with the performance of Diligent Harry and said: “We’re really pleased he’s been placed in a Group One.
“He’s repeated what we were seeing at home and it is very important that he travelled out here so well. He doesn’t like soft ground, so his season will be governed outside that.”
Patrick Mullins will be reunited with Fun Fun Fun when his father Willie Mullins fields a strong squad for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday.
The Closutton operation are responsible for 10 of the 18 runners in the Grade One event – including betting favourite Jade De Grugy – with the Irish champion trainer saddling the winner in six of the last 10 renewals.
Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Fun Fun Fun was in fact bred by the trainer’s son, who was regularly the man in the saddle last season when the duo secured Grade Two honours at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The decorated amateur was aboard for Fun Fun Fun’s winning hurdles bow at Thurles but has since given way for Paul Townend and Daryl Jacob to undertake steering duties in her next three outings.
However, fresh from landing the Grade Three Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas under Townend earlier this month, Mullins is back in the plate for her shot at the big time.
He said: “I bred Fun Fun Fun and it’s great to get back on her. Her pedigree suggests the ground and trip will be no problem, she’s a relation to The Listener and Yorkhill.
“She’s stepping up in trip and she’s usually a fast horse, so there is a question mark, but her pedigree suggests she will be fine.”
Stablemate Jade De Grugy sports the colours of leading owner Kenny Alexander, who claimed this prize with his star mare Honeysuckle in 2019, before the race was renamed in her honour.
Jade De Grugy went to the Cheltenham Festival with a big reputation and expectations to match, but having disappointed when only fourth in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, she is being backed to show her true colours as she quickly reappears.
“Jade De Grugy will probably be hard to beat,” continued Mullins.
“I think Cheltenham very much turned into a sprint and it was a Flat-bred horse that won the race. We would be disappointed if we don’t see better from her on Sunday.”
Away from the Mullins battalion, Jessica Harrington has a live contender in the form of second-season novice Jetara, who was pulled up here last year but has won three times this term and was last seen hitting the frame at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Gavin Cromwell’s Bioluminescence arrives in search of a hat-trick in the colours of JP McManus, having won a Limerick Grade Three earlier this month, while stablemate Only By Night has some smart form to her name also.
There is UK interest in the form of Fergal O’Brien’s Springtime Promise, who is unbeaten in three starts since switching to the Ravenswell Farm handler and beat some useful opponents when claiming the Grade Two Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown last month.
“We’re very pleased with Springtime and she surprised us first time up and has just progressed from there,” said O’Brien.
“Sedgefield wasn’t pretty but she got the job done and then she was very good at Sandown in the Jane Seymour, which I think was a deep enough race. Springtime and the Skelton horse (Cherie D’Am) pulled a long way clear from everything else and we’ve been very pleased with her.
“She won’t mind the ground, so we keep our fingers crossed. Willie Mullins has declared 10, but we always just do our own thing and whatever turns up, we do our best to try to beat them.
“In these graded races, you have to worry about yourself and, touch wood, she is in great form, she’s schooled well and had a little breeze on Friday – and I’m very happy with her.”
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