GAVIN CROMWELL BLOG: Grade-1 Winning Trainer and BETDAQ Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell recaps his two winners at Naas last week, previews this week’s runners, and gives an update on Cheltenham hopeful Espoir D’Allen
Horses in great form
It’s been a great week for the yard with two winners on Sunday and several other horses running really well too.
Livingstones Quest got things off to a great start in the handicap hurdle at Naas. It wasn’t a great race, but the small field suited him down to the ground. He can take quite a keen hold in his races, but James [Kane] got him in a lovely position and things just fell into place nicely.
He’d shown us a bit at home and just hadn’t quite transferred in onto the track, so it was great to finally see things come together.
Ming Dynasty completed the double at Naas with an impressive win. He’d had a wind-operation on the back of his previous run and he clearly benefited from that. He won off a career high mark of 109 so is clearly a horse on the upgrade and I’m hopeful there is plenty more improvement to come. He’s come out of the race fine and we’re actually going to run him at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Over at Newcastle, I thought Raz De Maree ran an absolute blinder in the Eider Chase. The ground was far too quick for him and he was flat out from a long way, but stuck on really well. He’s down another 5lbs for the run and even though he’s 14, I’d be pretty hopeful he’s got one more big run in him.
Weekend runners
Our first runner is Peaches And Cream in the maiden hurdle (1.45pm) at Navan on Saturday. He goes nicely at home, but this is very much a learning experience and we should know plenty more about him afterwards.
In the last race of the day (5.10pm), we run Bentham. His work has been impressive and he’s one we’ve thought an awful lot of for a while now. He’s a nice horse and we’re expecting a big run. He could be one to keep an eye for the future.
Over at Doncaster, Brex Drago goes in the novices’ hurdle (4.05pm). He hasn’t run well on his last few starts, but he seems in really good nick and I think he’s coming back to his best. He’s the highest-rated in the race, and while I’d ideally like a bit more ease in the ground, I’d like to think he goes there with a strong chance.
If he wins at Doncaster and gets a penalty, he could go to Cheltenham. He’s got entries in both the County Hurdle and Coral Cup and at this stage it looks as if the County is more likely. I think the nature of the race should suit him well and he could be a lively outsider if things go to plan on Saturday.
As I mentioned, Ming Dynasty will take his chance at Leopardstown on Sunday (3.10pm). It’s a deeper race than last week and he’s gone up 9lbs which won’t makes things easy either. I thought the rise was quite harsh, but James Kane takes five of those off. We definitely haven’t seen the best of him yet, so I can’t see any reason to suggest why he shouldn’t go well again.
Our final runner of the weekend is Tritonix in the Leopardstown bumper on Sunday (5.20pm). She ran much better than her finishing position the last day at Navan and she was just a bit too handy.
She goes quite well at home and I wouldn’t be surprised if she runs much better this time.
Cheltenham runners
With the big festivals not too far away, it’s great the horses are in good form. It’s obviously the business end of the season so it always gives you a bit of confidence to know they are going nicely.
Espoir D’Allen is in great form ahead of his tilt at the Champion Hurdle on the Tuesday. As long as the ground is safe, he’ll have a racecourse gallop after racing at Navan on Saturday. It will be his last proper bit of work before Cheltenham and we’ll just keep him ticking over from now until then.
It’s real thrill to have a horse like him in such a good race. He’s improved for us all season and to be a live contender in a race of such quality is fantastic for the yard.
