SIZING JOHN is in great form and I have made a provisional entry for him in The Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The Hattons Grace is over two and a half miles, which will be fine for his first run back and he is due to work over the weekend.
He looks great and he is in very good form and as I said last week, this time last year we still had pretty fast ground (for jumping horses), but we have soft ground everywhere now, so we’ll see how he gets on at the weekend, but my initial thoughts are, that The Hattons Grace could be a good race to start him off in.
We run four over the weekend and my thoughts on them are below.
Naas – Saturday
3.25pm
Discordantly (Paddy Kennedy)
He wants it very soft and he never had his ground at any stage last season, so I’m thrilled to see the ground described as soft to heavy at Naas. He looks a real chaser and two and a half miles around Naas for his first run over fences, should be fine for him. He has schooled well at home, but like all the beginners chases at this time of the season, this looks a good race. I am happy with our horse and hopefully he’ll run a good race.
4.00pm
Papal Pearl (Finny Maguire)
She has had a wind operation since her last run and she brings a good level of form into this race. I don’t think the ground will be a huge issue for her and I think the experience that she picked up last season will be a big help to her. She has been working well and I am expecting a good run from her.
Navan – Sunday
1.05pm
Magic Of Light (Paddy Kennedy)
She has developed into a very good mare and the National at Aintree is the aim again for her, after such a brave effort in that race earlier this year behind Tiger Roll. She is in very good form and all those mares’ hurdles and most likely chases too, are there for her this season. Obviously Apples Jade will be very hard to beat, but it’s a small field and she has no rating over hurdles, so we have no choice but to run her in graded/conditions hurdles for the moment.
3.50pm
Jungle Junction (Luke McGuinness)
He rounded off last season with a very good run in a competitive Punchestown bumper and he has grown and matured over the summer. He has been away and has plenty done, so I am optimistic that he’ll run a big race. He went well on the soft ground when I took him away last week and while you never know what you could meet in a race like this, he goes there with his chance.
