Craig Kieswetter has paid tribute to the training prowess of Willie Mullins, as the former England cricketer begins to dream of Cheltenham Festival glory with Leopardstown scorer Il Etait Temps.
Owned by the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud in conjunction with the Heffer family’s Hollywood Syndicate, the six-year-old struck at the Dublin Racing Festival for the second year in a row.
Having lowered the colours of Facile Vega over hurdles 12 months ago, Il Etait Temps was back to cause another upset in the Irish capital, this time the beneficiary of Marine Nationale’s Irish Arkle no show, as he battled past Found A Fifty in the hands of Danny Mullins for his second Grade One success.
The South Africa-born Kieswetter played 71 times for England in white-ball internationals and is also a scratch golfer, having competed on both the PGA EuroPro Tour and MENA Golf Tour since his retirement from cricket.
As such, he is well qualified to judge sporting excellence and has always spoken in glowing terms of Il Etait Temps’ trainer, the master of Closutton.
“He’s probably along the lines of a Messi or Ronaldo or a Schumacher – he’s a champion,” said Kieswetter when explaining what makes Mullins so prolific.
“He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats, but there is still plenty of life in the old dog yet. He certainly isn’t ready to hand over the reins yet and you can see how passionate and energetic and driven he is to keep winning and getting the results.”
The 36-year-old also reserved plenty of praise for Il Etait Temps and his jockey, as they both advertised their class at the back-end of a thrilling renewal of the two-mile Grade One event.
“It was very impressive and it might have just been fate or destiny with it being a year to the day since he won his first Grade One,” continued Kieswetter.
“We were delighted and it was another terrific ride from Danny (Mullins) – I was very hoarse the next day after shouting so loudly at the TV.
“It was terrific to have Ross Doyle there on course; Peter, Ross and Anna Doyle are good friends of the family and sourced the horse for us, so it is fantastic that they were there.
“He’s quite a difficult horse to follow I suppose, because his jumping – even though it is getting better than it was over hurdles – is still quite inconsistent and he is certainly a horse who puts you through the full range of emotions when you are watching a race.”
Il Etait Temps’ gutsy triumph came on a weekend where Mullins claimed all eight Grade One prizes on offer at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Mullins’ dominance at one of Ireland’s premier meetings left people questioning if his superiority is diminishing the competitive nature of the sport.
However, Kieswetter has leapt to Mullins’ defence – highlighting his winning mentality and great ability to treat every owner and horse among his vast arsenal equally.
“I have read articles questioning if it is good for the industry that Willie is dominating, but at the end of the day, Willie Mullins provides results and this is a results-based sport,” continued Kieswetter.
“With Willie and his team – not only his management team, but the whole staff – you have never once had a feeling of bias in the yard, which is probably a very difficult thing for them to do.
“Every single horse is treated equally and given the opportunity to run their race, no matter how many he may also saddle in the same race.
“You go to Closutton and you see the professionalism of Willie and his staff. What we have always been impressed with about Willie is he gives a lot of ownership to his staff in terms of the horses, which is impressive to see.
“His results speak for themselves and we have always been delighted to be associated with him.
“He’s set up a model at his yard that works and I think it is a bit unfair for the industry to be having a crack at him and saying it is the Willie Mullins Festival. The drive at the yard is very impressive and very fun to be a small part of.”
Il Etait Temps is now the general second-favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and, having twice ran with credit at the showpiece meeting, has connections excited ahead of his third bite of the Prestbury Park cherry.
Kieswetter added: “Horse racing is about selling the dream and I’ve never enjoyed going into a race with lots of media and talk about a horse, but he has certainly proven that he deserves to be not taken lightly.
“We will certainly be over there and we’re excited every year for Cheltenham – and we can’t wait to be there cheering on Il Etait Temps with the team.”
Broadway Boy was found to be suffering from stomach ulcers after he disappointed at Warwick behind Grey Dawning.
Having won three of his first four outings over fences, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained novice was prominent in the betting for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase next month.
However, having been harried for the lead he was beaten approaching the second last and finished over 30 lengths behind Grey Dawning.
Whether he now steps up in trip for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham or goes for the Grade One Brown Advisory has still to be decided.
“It’s completely up in the air and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge yet,” said assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies.
“It’s been narrowed down to either the Brown Advisory or the National Hunt Chase but that is it, we’re not sure yet and we’ll make a decision the week before, probably. Both options are definitely open.
“It will be a case of seeing who goes where and what the ground is looking like.
“He’d be close to the top of the ratings for the National Hunt Chase whereas he might have to improve slightly for the Brown Advisory, but we’ll see nearer the time.
“He scoped badly after Warwick and then we also found that he had stomach ulcers as well, but we’re back on track now.”
Tellherthename is all systems go for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle having missed out on a shot at Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle on account of the testing ground.
Trainer Ben Pauling has never hidden his admiration for highly of his talented novice, who has won two of his four starts to date in taking fashion at Huntingdon.
The Cheltenham Festival opener has always been on the radar for the Megson family-owned five-year-old, but Pauling was keen to stop off at Newbury en route and try to exploit a rating of 135.
However, with persistent rain in the days leading into the prestigious handicap turning conditions in Berkshire heavy, connections made the decision to skip the contest in favour of heading to Prestbury Park without the risk of a gruelling race prior to his main objective.
“It’s ironic because the Betfair Hurdle is such a valuable race and takes a lot of thinking about, but the Supreme is one of the sort of blue riband events of our sport,” said Pauling.
“To have a horse we think is good enough to feature in it doesn’t happen very often and the owners were keen to save him for that day rather than end up at Cheltenham having had a harder race than necessary in the Betfair.
“We had always said to ourselves we would love to go via a Betfair Hurdle if everything fell right. So he was trained for the race and couldn’t have been in better form, but unfortunately the rain that Newbury got meant the ground was always going to be too testing.
“Actually, the fact the rain stopped and it started to dry out a little bit meant it was going to be quite tacky and hard work, so that even further secured our thoughts not to go there which was a shame because we thought we had him going there in great form and off a very nice mark and a good position to do himself justice.
“He’s at home in his stable looking magnificent and we will now prepare him for the Supreme.”
The Naunton Downs handler has tasted success three times at the Cheltenham Festival and heads to the showpiece meeting in four weeks time with the best squad of novice talent he has ever assembled.
His Festival hopes were enhanced by Handstands’ impressive victory in Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle last week and he will now head attempt to repeat Willoughby Court’s 2017 victory in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, while Fiercely Proud and Challow Hurdle third The Jukebox Man are other smart prospects Pauling could unleash in the Cotswolds.
“We do seem to have a lot of novices that are going the right way at the moment and they are a very talented and progressive bunch. It’s nice to have such nice younger horses.” continued Pauling.
On Handstands, he added: “He’s come out of Huntingdon well and I was really, really pleased with his performance in the Sidney Banks.
“He’s a horse that previous to that race had only beaten what he had beaten, but Ben Jones who had ridden him twice before felt we were only scratching the surface and had not got to the bottom of him.
“You are not quite sure until you run them in that better grade what you have, but we were thrilled by the way he went about it and he put the race to bed quite nicely – when he got to the front he didn’t do an awful lot and probably won a bit cosily, so it was a good performance.”
Northampton Town has secured the services of experienced defender Liam Moore on a short-term deal, adding depth to their squad until the end of the season. The 31-year-old defender, formerly with Reading, has been a free agent since his contract with the Royals concluded in June 2023.
Moore, who began his career with Leicester City, brings a wealth of experience and pedigree to Northampton Town. Having made 234 appearances during his tenure with Reading, Moore has demonstrated his defensive prowess and leadership on the field.
Northampton manager Jon Brady expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition, emphasizing Moore's positive integration with the squad during training. "He has already fitted in well with the group, and he brings with him a good amount of experience and an excellent pedigree," said Brady in a statement on the club website.
The seasoned defender faced a challenging period when he was stripped of the Reading captaincy in January 2022 after expressing his desire to leave the club. Subsequently, Moore joined Stoke City on loan in the same month, but his time on the field was cut short due to a serious injury sustained during training.
The defender received his first call-up to the Jamaica national team in March 2021, joining a group of English-born players embracing their Jamaican heritage. Since his debut in March 2021, Moore has earned nine international caps for the Reggae Boyz.
Maureen Mullins, matriarch of the famous Irish racing family, has died aged 94.
Wife of multiple champion trainer Paddy Mullins, who died in 2010, Maureen Mullins was the mother of trainer Willie, fellow Grade One-winning handlers Tony and Tom, renowned horse transporter George and daughter Sandra – all of who were victorious in the saddle.
She was also a winning rider herself, steering Razzo Forte to glory in a female riders’ event at Gowran Park in 1982, a race which her daughter also rode in.
Her grandchildren include record-breaking amateur rider Patrick, multiple Grade One-winner Danny, and David, who rode Rule The World to win the 2016 Grand National.
Grandsons Charlie and Emmet have also ridden winners while the latter trained a Grand National victor in 2022 Aintree hero Noble Yeats, underlining the family’s incredible influence on National Hunt racing.
Danny Mullins posted on X (formerly Twitter): “What a woman, such an inspiration. RIP.”
She was involved as an owner and breeder down the years, with Kilcruit a recent feather in her cap having won the Grade One Punchestown bumper following his sale having initially raced in her colours.
The British Horseracing Authority paid tribute to her “tremendous passion for the sport”, saying: “All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the passing of Maureen Mullins. We extend our condolences to the Mullins family today.
“Maureen Mullins had a tremendous passion for the sport to which she gave so much and her legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.”
Sir Alex Ferguson will have the chance to secure further international honours after Richard Fahey confirmed his Spirit Dancer is on course for the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia later this month.
The former Manchester United manager was no stranger to glory overseas during his time in the dugout and alongside co-owners Peter Done and Ged Mason saw Spirit Dancer collect £500,000 when victorious in the Bahrain International Trophy in November.
The seven-year-old has since tuned up for his outing in Riyadh by finishing fourth in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan and Fahey is confident that will put him spot on for the $2million event on February 24.
“I was delighted to get that run in Dubai into him,” said Fahey.
“We were pleased with the run and we were probably just drawn a little bit wide – hopefully the run will put him 100 per cent right for Saudi.
“We’re going to run in the Neom. I was keen to go for the big one there (Saudi Cup), but I just felt nine furlongs on the dirt would be sharp enough for him. He’s a horse I would probably want to go a mile and a half in Saudi rather than a sharp nine, if that makes sense.”
Spirit Dancer’s owners revelled in their Bahrain success before Christmas, with Ferguson describing it as his “best ever” victory as an owner.
All of the son of Frankel’s ownership trio appear keen on another visit to the Middle East, with Fahey predicting a strong showing from his charge in the extended 10-furlong turf contest.
“Barring problems I’m sure his owners are very keen,” continued Fahey.
“Peter Done and Ged Mason are both very keen and Sir Alex is keen as well, so it looks like they are booking and barring problems I would say they will probably be there.
“We certainly enjoyed Bahrain and anything now is a bonus, but we’re expecting him to run a big race in Saudi.”
George Baker is ready for a jet-setting weekend as he saddles Lucander in Bahrain and Cemhaan and Cumulonimbus on the snow in St Moritz.
The trainer is no stranger to either jurisdiction and has enjoyed success at both, but he has never taken in both meetings on the same weekend before.
Lucander runs in the H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup on Friday and Baker is eyeing further riches in the sun.
“We have seven horses over here this season. Lucander has won a Turf Series race and ran a massive race in the Crown Prince’s Cup,” he said.
“He will run this week in H.H Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. He has also been invited to stay here for the King’s Cup which is a very valuable race in the beginning of March. It’s been a very good campaign so far and it’s been great to be involved.”
Ancient Greece broke new ground for Baker when winning three times on the White Turf at St Moritz in 2013 with Wargrave another winner on the ice.
Cumulonimbus also the distinction of being owned by the owner of a Kentucky Derby winner, Ramiro Restrepo.
“Cumulonimbus is a new addition to the team. He is a horse that my wife Candida and I loved when we saw him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in October but he went for 150,000 guineas so we thought he was gone on to other pastures,” said Baker.
“But we were called that night by Ramiro Restrepo, who is involved in the syndicate that won the Kentucky Derby last year with Mage. Ramiro had noted our exploits on the frozen lake at St Moritz and the call was a lovely one to get as it was to ask us if were interested to train the horse and prepare him for St Moritz.
“Cemhaan has always been a quality performer in the UK. He was third at Royal Ascot last year and the previous year he won the Heritage Handicap on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket. He is a proven horse.
“Both horses have done everything we have asked of them. All we can do is send them in good form and good health and that is the case right now.”
Friday’s meeting at Ffos Las has been called off due to a waterlogged track.
Officials inspected the course on Wednesday morning and after heavy rain, the venue is not fit for action.
The track tweeted: “Due to 70 millimetres of rain in the last seven days and with further rain forecast, racing on Friday 16th February has been abandoned.”
Thursday’s fixtures at Newcastle and Leicester are also subject to inspections.
Newcastle will check conditions at 8am on raceday, with the course reported to be heavy with further rain expected, while Leicester inspect at 4.15pm on Wednesday with areas of waterlogging reported.
Wednesday’s meeting at Fontwell did get the go-ahead following an 8am inspection.
Olympic 100m finalist Christania Williams was victorious in the women’s 60m at the Belgrade Indoor Meeting- a World Athletics Indoor Tour- Silver meet on Tuesday.
Williams first ran 7.18, an indoor personal best, to advance fastest from the prelims before going slightly slower in the final with 7.23 to win ahead of Great Britain’s Imani-Lara Lansiquot (7.26) and Hungary’s Boglara Takacs (7.27).
The 29-year-old, who made the Olympic 100m final back in 2016 in Rio, is looking to get back to her best after some bad injury luck over the last few years.
Williams has already competed in eight 60m races this year, with her best results coming on Tuesday.
She also produced second place finishes in the heats at both the Meeting de Paris on February 11 and the ISTAF Indoor Dusseldorf on February 4 with times of 7.19 and 7.27, respectively.
She opened her season with a 7.29 effort to win at the National Indoor Cup in Vienna on January 16.
Jamaica Senior Men’s Team Vice Captain Damion Lowe was honored on Saturday at the 19th staging of the Camperdown Classic at the National Stadium in Kingston on February 10.
Lowe, a second-generation Reggae Boy, was pleased to be honored by his alma mater.
The citation shared that while a student at Camperdown High, Damion never missed a football game. He contributed significantly to every football team from first to sixth form. He also did track and field while at the sprint factory, participating as a long jumper and a reserve for the 4x100m relay team.
Former principal and Chairperson for the Camperdown Classic, Cynthia Cooke, mentioned, “Damion demonstrated leadership abilities at a young age by coordinating school devotions. His exceptional performance in six-week assessments earned him ‘A’ badges, which were celebrated with enthusiastic applause from his peers.”
Dubbed the 'Head of State', Damion has represented Jamaica at all levels. He has earned 60 caps for the Reggae Boyz since his debut in 2016. He has played professionally in Europe (Norway), and Africa (Egypt) and spent the last two seasons in the US MLS, first at Inter Miami and currently with Philadelphia Union.
Lowe was nominated for the CONCACAF Defender of the Year award in 2021.
His philanthropic efforts include an annual Christmas treat in his community of Rockfort, East Kingston over the past three years.
"I’m grateful to be able to represent both Camperdown and Jamaica. I Hope this award will inspire the next generation to follow their dreams and to remember that only your best is good enough.” Lowe said.
The Windward Islands Volcanoes are sitting atop the points table at the end of Round 1 of the West Indies Championship, after their 9-wicket victory over the Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park.
With a total of 21.4 points, 9.4 of which came from bowling points, as they picked up 3 points for surpassing 300 runs in the first innings and then bowling the Scorpions out in both innings.
Not far behind are the Barbados Pride with 19 points, having picked up 3 batting points and 4 bowling points. The West Indies Academy victory over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes have them sitting third on the table, while the rest of the table reads as follows Guyana Harpy Eagles with 5.5 points, Jamaica Scorpions 4.4, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 3 and Combined Campuses and Colleges at eighth with 3 points.
Three teams have made player changes to their teams heading into Round 2 which starts tomorrow.
Guyana Harpy Eagles have replaced Ronsford Beaton with Isai Thorne who returned from competing with the West Indies Men’s Under 19 team at the recently concluded ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Beaton was suspended for an illegal bowling action in his team’s first round clash with the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Conaree Cricket Centre.
The West Indies Academy have made two changes with to their squad with Jordan Johnson and Teddy Bishop replacing Kelvin Pitman and Ramon Simmonds. Johnson returned from competing with the West Indies Men’s Under 19 team at the recently concluded ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, and Bishop returned from Australia where he was a member of the West Indies Men’s Senior team for the ODI series against Australia.
Gilson Tyson will replace Shermon Lewis in the Windward Islands Volcanoes team, as Lewis has been ruled out of the next two rounds of the competition due to injury. Kavem Hodge who also returned from Test and ODI duties with the West Indies Senior Men’s team in Australia, will replace Keron Cottoy.
Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force had their first-round match at the Conaree Cricket Centre end with no result due to seepage of water onto the pitch from a 24-hour persistent rainfall. Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Combined Campuses and Colleges all suffered defeats to the Windward Islands Volcanoes, the West Indies Academy and Barbados Pride respectively.
Round 2 starts on Wednesday 14 February-17 February in Jamaica at Sabina Park and Kensington Cricket Club and in St. Kitts at Warner Park and Conaree Cricket Centre. All matches start at 10am local time.
Every West Indies Championship match will be streamed live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel. Fans can follow every game from their mobile devices, computers, or connected TVs, including access to live ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live match center.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
West Indies Championship 2024
Round 1
7 to 10 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Sabina Park, Jamaica- Volcanoes won by 9 wickets
CCC vs Barbados Pride - Chedwin Park, Jamaica- Pride won by 9 wickets
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs West Indies Academy - Warner Park, St. Kitts- Academy won by 5 wickets
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force - Conaree Cricket Centre, St. Kitts- No Result
Round 2
14 to 17 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs CCC - Sabina Park, Jamaica
Barbados Pride vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Warner Park, St. Kitts
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs West Indies Academy - Conaree Cricket Centre, St. Kitts
Round 3
21 to 24 February:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride - Sabina Park, Jamaica
Windward Islands Volcanoes vs CCC - Chedwin Park, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Warner Park, St. Kitts
West Indies Academy vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), Antigua
Round 4
13 to 16 March:
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
CCC vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes - Diego Martin Regional Complex, Trinidad
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Barbados Pride - Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at UWI Spec (UWI SPEC), Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Jamaica Scorpions - CCG, Antigua
Round 5
20 March to 23 March:
Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Barbados Pride - Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Jamaica Scorpions - Diego Martin Regional Complex, Trinidad
Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs CCC - CCG, Antigua
Round 6
10 to 13 April:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Sabina Park, Jamaica
CCC vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Chedwin Park, Jamaica
Leeward Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - CCG, Antigua
Round 7
17 to 20 April:
Jamaica Scorpions vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Sabina Park, Jamaica
CCC vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Kensington Cricket Club, Jamaica
Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - UWI SPEC, Trinidad
West Indies Academy vs Barbados Pride - CCG, Antigua
Lucinda Russell is keen to run Ahoy Senor in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase to see if he warrants his place in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.
Pulled up on his first two outings of the season, the Grade One-winning novice chaser showed much more of his old spark last time out at Cheltenham.
Running in the Cotswold Chase, which he had won 12 months earlier, Ahoy Senor was still bang in contention approaching the third last when jockey Stephen Mulqueen’s stirrup leather broke.
Regular rider Derek Fox will be back on board this weekend having returned from injury when he will meet his old foe L’Homme Presse, who beat him into second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Festival in 2022.
“He’s on track for the Ascot Chase on Saturday and I’m quite hopeful he’ll run very well,” Russell told her William Hill blog.
“It was so unfortunate what happened at Cheltenham with the stirrup breaking as he was travelling brilliantly. He’s been really well at home since and we’re looking forward to it. We all know he takes a bit of time to get going, but he comes alive in the spring.”
One problem Ahoy Senor may have this weekend is the fact Ascot is right-handed as he has never won when going in that direction.
“Going right-handed at Ascot is a bit of a worry, but we won’t really know until he tries it,” said Russell.
“We’re dropping back in trip as the Ryanair looks a very good option for him. If you’re classy enough to win a Gold Cup, then you’re certainly classy enough to win a Ryanair. His run style suggests this might just be what he wants now.”
Another runner for the stable on the card will be the mare Apple Away in the Sodexo Live! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase as she builds towards a possible tilt at the Ultima next month.
“The plan is to run her in the Reynoldstown at Ascot on Saturday. She looks very fit at the moment and has come to hand well since Warwick. It gives her a bit more jumping experience ahead of the big spring festivals and again this will help us decide where we target her,” said Russell.
“All options are open at this stage and while we were leaning towards the Ultima, it’s not a definite by any means.
“I think she’s better than she showed at Warwick and I thought she probably ran with the choke out a bit too much. She bumped into a pretty smart horse too and I think she might just take a little bit of time to really come into herself. If you look back to last year, she really thrived after the turn of the year and the way she looks now, might just be evidence of that.”
Gentlemansgame remains on target for a crack at the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup having recovered from a setback which ruled him out of the Savills Chase at Christmas.
Mouse Morris’s grey has only been seen twice this campaign, at Gowran over an inadequate trip and when lowering the colours of last season’s King George winner Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Morris had wanted to take on Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown over Christmas but a stone bruise put paid to that and it was then decided to keep him fresh for Cheltenham rather than take in the Irish Gold Cup.
The Fethard handler’s last Festival win came via First Lieutenant in what is now the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle in 2011 but he does have a Gold Cup win to his name thanks to War Of Attrition in 2006.
“Touch wood, he’s on target, he obviously had the hiccup which ruled him out of Christmas but he did a nice bit of work on Saturday, so we’re on track as long as we don’t have any hold ups,” said Morris.
“He had a stone bruise but it went right up to his foot, it went very deep.
“We didn’t bring him over last season as he had a setback. He’d beaten the winner of the Irish National (I Am Maximus) in his beginners’ chase but he’s so big, he keeps having issues.
“We took him down to the beach the other day, we take all the Cheltenham horses there, it’s a bit of a tradition and it’s great for them, a bit of a change.
“He goes well fresh and he’ll be fit as a fiddle, don’t worry about that, experience is the problem.”
Despite the Charlie Hall being only his third outing over fences, Morris fancied his chances.
“I hate saying it but I was very hopeful going to Wetherby as he’d run a good race at Gowran over two and a half against a horse (Easy Game) who has won 15 times or something like that,” he said.
“We couldn’t take him to the north (Down Royal) as the other fella (Gerri Colombe, same ownership) was, but I was confident.
“There’s absolutely no similarities with War Of Attrition, he probably lacks a bit of toe but he jumps well and stays forever.
“Most of mine don’t run from Christmas to Cheltenham, not many of the winners have, anyway.
“Darragh (O’Keeffe) will ride him, he’s only had three runs over fences and we’ll take him somewhere to school.
“I’d say he might not be fast enough to make it! He’ll be doing his best work at the end I’d say.
“I don’t miss being in the spotlight but I don’t mind it. I never had more than 35 horses in and I’m still about 30 but they just aren’t the same quality, unfortunately, you just can’t compete.”
Kieran Cotter’s star filly Matilda Picotte will kick off her season in the Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting on February 24.
A promising juvenile, she made a taking start to her three-year-old season when second in a Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and was then third in the 1000 Guineas itself at Epsom in May.
She rounded off the year with back-to-back successes in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket, both over seven furlongs.
The ultimate aim this year is to pick up a Group One prize, but first she will start out her campaign in the Middle East as she is among the entries for the 1351 Saudi Turf Sprint, a seven-furlong Group Two run for a prize fund of over £1.5 million.
“She doing fantastic, she had a break for six or seven weeks out at grass and then prior to Christmas we got an invitation to run in the Sprint,” Cotter said.
“She’s back in and being prepared for that, we’re delighted with her and she leaves for Saudi on Saturday morning to run the following Saturday.
“She flies from Shannon to Stansted and then it’s direct to Riyadh, door to door it’s a 20-hour journey which is no more than from here to Newmarket and she’s a very good traveller.”
Matilda Picotte is owned by the Matilda and Kilmichael Racing Partnership, some of whom will make the journey to Saudi Arabia to see her start what they hope will be a fruitful season at the top level.
“We’re looking forward to seeing her give her best. Her last run was exceptional but she’ll need to bring her whole A-game to the table in two weeks time,” Cotter said,
“It’s a good international field and I think the first, second and third from last time are going to turn up again.
“It’s serious money and we had to take the opportunity, our main target this year is to try to win a Group One with her and it’s a Group Two but if she’s a Group One horse she’ll have to go close.
“A few of the owners are going, there’ll be enough there to make a bit of noise anyway! She’s never run a bad race so it’s all to play for.”
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