IT IS a relatively light weekend for us runners wise, but we run some nice horses next week at Punchestown and Thurles and my thoughts on our two runners at the weekend, and our plans for next week are below.
Gowran Park – Saturday
1.35pm
Gambling Mistress (Conor Orr)
She ran very well at Thurles and she took a blow that day and has improved a lot for the race. We are taking 5lbs off her with Conor and she should have every chance in a race like this. Her work at home has been very solid and she handles an ease in the ground and we are looking forward to running her.
Navan – Sunday
3.00pm
Thegoaheadman (Robert Power)
He ran a solid race the last day at Clonmel and he has come forward for that. He takes plenty of work and he’s a hard horse to get fit, but he has improved since Clonmel and the track, trip and ground should suit him and off his mark, I think he’s capable of getting into the shake up.
This week/next week
We’ve had a good week and Silver Sheen was very good at Thurles when he won there on Thursday. He is clearly improving and I was delighted with him, while Jetz ran a cracker behind Footpad. He will improve for that and we’ll find something suitable for them in the coming weeks.
Neverushacon ran a cracker in the cross country race last weekend at Punchestown and he’ll go to Cheltenham next month for the cross country race there.
I was thrilled with Press Conference who ran a fine race behind Faugheen on his first start over fences in the Beginners' Chase and he will improve for that. But Beginners' Chases are just so hard to win at the moment – just look at Gowran on Saturday, where you have Laurina and Minella Indo taking each other on in one.
How about this for a bit of #MondayMotivation
SIZING JOHN, who last raced in 2017, is close to making a return!
Unibet ambassador @Jessica_Racing is targeting the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in @Fairyhouse on December 1st for the former Cheltenham winner
@davekeena1 pic.twitter.com/ZIRYQn6w5c
— Unibet Racing (@UnibetRacing) November 18, 2019
Looking ahead to next week, we are really looking forward to getting Sizing Pottsie back over hurdles on Tuesday at Punchestown. He’ll run in a two mile maiden and his work at home suggests that he is getting back to his best form.
Whisperinthebreeze remains a novice over fences until the 1st of December, so he’ll go for the novice chase on the same day, before he tackles open company later in the year. He looks great and he ran very well in a charity race last week. It’s a rated novice chase and it’s a lovely race to start him back in.
Discordantly takes a small drop in trip the Beginners' Chase at Thurles. His jumping is so slick that the shorter trip will suit him. He has come forward for his first run over fences and I am expecting another decent run form him on Thursday.
