The nights are drawing in and the Flat season across Ireland is ending for 2023. That means that attention is now switching to the national hunt sphere as we charge towards the Christmas period in anticipation of the winter and spring festivals. All of the top national hunt yards will be cranking up the gears in the coming weeks as they prepare to target their stable stars at all of the top races. I have highlighted below some of the runners who have caught my eye already and they may well have bigger targets in mind.
Rated 100 on the level, Goodie Two Shoes made the breakthrough on her fourth start over flights, as she ran out a comfortable winner of the opener at Killarney, the Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles.
Already tried in Grade 3 company, the Joseph O’Brien-trained four year-old disappointed at Down Royal on her latest start, finishing third when sent off an odds-on chance.
Although a well-supported favourite for this, the Fastnet Rock bay raced mainly in third under Simon Torrens but was left second by the heavy fall of market rival Silent Approach five flights from the home.
The JP McManus-owned victor closed on the front-running Zoomtime on the approach to the straight and she got to the front two out, soon stretching clear and coming home eight lengths to the good.
The aforementioned Zoomtime had to settle for second under Abbie Fitzgibbon, while Lackaneen Mag was a further nine-and-a-half lengths away in third.
The well-backed Caoimhes Pet made a winning return from injury and 227 days off when proving trainer Eoin McCarthy with a timely success in Killarney’s Handicap Hurdle again over an extended two miles.
Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
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IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton