ALL SET FOR FRESH START

Karl Hedley is on the spot for the new season action across Ireland

- Karl Hedley

The nights are drawing in now and the Flat season across Ireland is ending for 2024. That means that attention is now naturally 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 the top races. I have highlighted below some of the runners who have already caught my eye in recent weeks and they may well have bigger targets in mind as the season progresses.

A final fence faller when in with every chance on her chasing debut at Tipperary in July, Judicieuse Allen made amends when opening her account over the larger obstacles in the mares' beginners chase over an extended two-mile trip at Sligo.

Supporters of the second favourite were given an early scare when jockey Paul Townend had to sit tight after the 5yo made a mistake at the first fence.

Held up towards rear of the seven strong field, the Willie Mullins-trained mare had her task eased when the favourite Nara departed at the fifth last fence. Townend moved closer to the pace after three out, closing up to dispute with Miss Gherkin after the penultimate fence.

Pushed along to lead at the last, Judicieuse Allen stayed on strongly on the run-in to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths.

Townend said: "She got a fright at the first and was lucky to find a leg.

After a fall the last day and doing that at the first today, she showed bravery to then jump as well as she did throughout. She found plenty up the straight when I wanted her to and took on the last real well. At least she's got that fall well behind her now.