GAVIN CROMWELL BLOG: Champion Hurdle Winning Trainer and BETDAQ Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell on a busy weekend ahead on both the Flat and Jumps.
It’s very busy at the moment with runners on both the Flat and over the jumps. The horses seem to be in good order which bodes well with the likes of Fairyhouse and Punchestown not too far away.
We’ve also started work on a new barn which will bring 30 new stables to the yard, and fingers crossed we’ll get more horses in the yard in the next few months to fill them.
Navan Saturday
My runners over the weekend begin with Earl Of Bunnacurry in the 1m5f handicap (3.15pm). He’s back on the Flat after running a bit below par over hurdles at Market Rasen last time. Two days before that he ran at Southwell where he missed the break and never really got into it.
He’ll like the good ground and he’s been pretty consistent for us so hopefully he can run well. The trip might be a bit of a stretch, but we’ll see how he goes.
On Sunday, we run Lever Du Soleil at Limerick (2.20pm). Conor McNamara is claiming seven pounds, but I’m still not quite sure if he’s up to his mark of 123. He also gets the four-year-old allowance from the older horses which makes things easier too.
His run at Stratford wasn’t too bad considering the weight he was giving the winner, so I’m hoping he’ll be there or thereabouts.
In the 3.30pm, Mutadaffeq takes his chance. The form of his previous run at Naas looks strong with another one of ours, Ejayteekay winning recently. The horse is in good form at home and the way he ran on last time suggests there should be more to come.
He finished very strongly the last day, which makes me think he could potentially be well-handicapped having only gone up two pounds, so if he can reproduce that run again here, he’d have a good each-way chance.
We also run Tashman in the same race, who definitely wouldn’t be without a chance either. He’s gets the four-year-old allowance which will help and he’s going the right way.
He wasn’t beaten far the last day, so I’d like to think he can take another step forward and be competitive again here.
Ascot Saturday
Over at Ascot, we’re looking forward to running Quantatmental in the handicap hurdle (2.45pm). It’s his first run in a handicap and conditions look in his favour, with the good ground right up his street.
It’s a good competitive handicap, but he won pretty cosily last time, and providing he can put his best foot forward, we’re hoping he’ll go well. He obviously didn’t run at Cheltenham, so comes here fresh and it would be great to get another winner in England.
We’re still on cloud nine after Espor D’Allen’s win (below).
