MY DEADLY DOZEN

Karl Hedley with his horses to follow on both sides of the Irish Sea this season

Cheltenham, Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown have all come and gone and it now seems appropriate to focus on possible contenders for the upcoming Flat season with many top-class races on the agenda ahead of the first Classic meeting of the season at the Curragh and beyond over the next six months. I have compiled a list of twelve Irish horses that it should pay to follow over the weeks and months ahead, a few of which may well have gone under your radar.

KYPRIOS – AIDAN O’BRIEN 

Kyprios has not looked back since winning on his seasonal reappearance at Navan last year. Wins at Royal Ascot, Leopardstown, Goodwood, The Curragh and Longchamp all swiftly followed ensuing that he cemented himself as the leading stayer in training. The best thing about the son of Galileo is that he acts on all types of going and left his rivals trailing in his wake as he romped to a 20-length victory in the Prix De Cadran under Ryan Moore. All of the top staying races are likely to be marked out again for him this season with a follow up trip to Royal Ascot very much likely to be top of his agenda. There is plenty more to come from this five-year-old this year.

LITTLE BIG BEAR – AIDAN O’BRIEN