GAVIN CROMWELL: This week Brand Ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners at Galway, Leopardstown and Wexford ahead of a busy few days for the yard.
We had a good double at Tipperary on Tuesday and they all seem to be in good form at home, so fingers crossed for a few more good performances this weekend.
Saturday – Galway and Leopardstown
Dazzling Darren was a little bit disappointing on his first run over hurdles but we’re hoping he can do better here (1:40pm). This is French Asset’s first run after joining us from Sir Michael Stoute’s. He’s doing nicely at home, so we’ll see how he goes on track. He was rated 75 on the flat for Sir Michael so we’re hoping he jumps well and gets off to a nice start. There’s not much between them both, with Dazzling Darren the more experienced but French Asset maybe has more potential.
Calthor is ready to go and fingers crossed he can run a big race in the maiden hurdle (2:12pm). He was an impressive point to point winner, but it has taken him a while to get to the track for us. He’s ready to start out and we’ll be hopeful he goes close. Having won a point to point over three miles, we think he’ll go further in time.
Father Ailbe (3:57pm) has been mixing it up on the Flat of late, having run in the Irish Cesarewitch last time out. The flag start didn’t go well for him as he was out the back and never really got involved but you can put a line through that run. He’ll love the heavy ground, is in good nick and Conor McNamara takes 5lbs off him again. He went over hurdles last season and can’t have the ground heavy enough, we’d be disappointed if he wasn’t involved.
You Say Nothing has had a few starts so far, running ok at Galway on the final day and this 2m5f hurdle (4:32pm) is a big step up in trip so we hope that will play to his strengths. It’s a competitive race and realistically he’ll do well to be placed.
Our only runner at Leopardstown is Yarfordadoe in the 1m2f handicap (4:49pm). He ran last weekend at Naas and was unlucky at the start being drawn one and gave himself a lot to do but ran on well to finish fourth. He’s another who will relish the rain. It’s soft ground at Leopardstown, so hopefully he will go close for us.
Sunday – Galway and Wexford
Shes Some Doll and Suil Alainn run in the maiden hurdle (12:40pm) at Galway. We thought Shes Some Doll had a decent chance at Ballinrobe in an unplaced maiden. She wasn’t quite good enough and this is a much better race so it’s tough to see her winning. Suil Alainn is a lovely mare starting out for us. She will definitely come on for a run but we wouldn’t be surprised if she was in the frame.
We have two in the 3m handicap hurdle (2:45pm) at Wexford. Galaxy Girl was consistent until her last run, but we probably ran her a bit too soon and she’s since had a little break. She’s now ready to go and is competitive at this level so fingers crossed she can run well. Clonguile Way should have a very good chance as he’s 17lbs lower over hurdles than he is over fences and looks to be our best chance of the weekend. If things go right for him, he’ll be the one they all have to beat.
In the handicap chase (3:55pm) we have Peaches And Cream and Spades Are Trumps. Peaches And Cream has won over course and distance so we know he likes the track. He was well beaten at Ballinrobe in the Mayo National, but he should have a good chance here. Spades Are Trumps has been a little bit disappointing for us since he won his maiden hurdle back in 2018. He is ready to start after a break and hopefully he can show us a bit more than he has done.
