Our stable tours for the new jumps season kick off with Phil Kirby talking Mark Howard through his exciting team.
ARTHUR MAC (IRE) 7 ch g Getaway (GER) – Orchardstown Moss (IRE)
Yet to run for us, he has been off the track since finishing fifth behind Champ in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April 2019. Rated 136 over hurdles, he is a nice horse who will have a run over hurdles before going novice chasing. There is no doubt he is a talented horse and, if he stays sounds, he could be an interesting horse over fences.
DAME DE RUBAN (FR) 5 gr m Turgeon (USA) – Land of Soprani (FR)
A new arrival, she is a nice straightforward mare who was placed in Irish points before winning over hurdles at Limerick during the summer. Runner-up at Gowran Park last time, she has settled in well and is ready to run. Her mark of 119 looks fair and we will give her a run over hurdles but before aiming her at mares’ novice chases.
EN MEME TEMPS (FR) 6 b g Saddler Maker (IRE) – Lady Reine (FR)
We bought him at the Doncaster Spring Sales last year and he ran two good races over hurdles at Carlisle and Cheltenham during the winter. Third at the latter track in January, we entered him at Chepstow last weekend but he didn’t run. We always thought he wanted two and a half miles but he looks quick enough for two miles. We will keep him over hurdles for the time being but it won’t be long before he goes chasing. He is a nice form with some decent form.
LITTLE BRUCE (IRE) 8 b g Yeats (IRE) – Lady Rolfe (IRE)
Won the North Yorkshire National at Catterick in January and he will continue to be aimed at those type of races. Seventh over hurdles on his return to action at Hexham last weekend, we are keen to target him at the cross country race at Cheltenham next month (13th November). He has done lots of schooling and he has already been down there to have some practice over the fences. Fourth in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh, he stays well and appreciates some better ground.
LORD BUTTONS 4 b g Presenting – Lady Chapp (IRE)
An unraced half-brother to dual Grade 2 winner Lady Buttons who did so well for us winning 15 races but has now retired, he is a lovely young horse. Not as sharp as his older sibling, he is a very nice type though and has a great attitude. We will give him a couple of runs in bumpers before going hurdling. He is bred to a useful horse.
LOUIS’ VAC POUCH (IRE) 8 b g Oscar (IRE) – Coming Home (FR)
He is a nice horse who has only run twice for us, including when finishing seventh in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. The jury is still out regarding his optimum trip whether it is two and a half or three miles. He is in good form at home and is ready to get started. We will aim him at the decent handicap chases and the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham (14th November) might be an option. He likes a strongly run race.
MADEEH 4 b c Oasis Dream – Ashaaqah (IRE)
We purchased him out of Sir Michael Stoute’s yard over a year ago and he has been in good form on the Flat this summer winning twice at Catterick and Musselburgh, Still a colt, he hasn’t schooled yet but there is a possibility he will go novice hurdling this season. A sound horse, he stays well and handles some cut in the ground and ought to make a nice jumper, if his owners want to go down that route.
NIVEN (IRE) 7 b g Elusive Pimpernel (USA) – Ginger Lily (IRE)
Ran well a couple of times at Wetherby before getting his head in front at Catterick last spring. The intention is to start him off at Wetherby on Wednesday and, while I am hoping he will run well, he ought to improve for the outing. A strongly run two miles suit him but he stays further, too.
PENNINE CROSS 5 b g Shirocco (GER) – Gaspara (FR)
Has a good pedigree and looks very well following his summer break. He won a bumper at Catterick and was placed at the same track under a penalty last time. Although he is quite a stuffy horse, he looks sharper this season and we will start him off in a two miles novice hurdle shortly.
RAYNA’S WORLD (IRE) 5 b m Poet’s Voice – Salmon Rose (IRE)
She is a nice mare who ran some very good races over hurdles last season. Placed behind the likes of Ribble Valley and Clondaw Caitlin at Wetherby, she then finished third in the Grade 2 mares’ novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Still a novice, we will aim her at that race again this season. I think she will benefit from stepping up in trip and we are going to start her off in a mares’ maiden hurdle at Ayr (26th October). She looks well and has benefited from her first proper break this summer.
SAKHEE’S CITY (FR) 9 b g Sakhee – A Lulu Ofa Menifee (USA)
He is very talented and has a lot of ability but needs things to go his way. A winner at Wetherby last November, he loves that track and heavy ground. He will be going back there as often as he can and run in 0-140 handicap hurdles. I am keen to step him up in trip again this season.
SHOW PROMISE 6 b g Josr Algarhoud (IRE) – Show Potential (IRE)
Won his only start over hurdles by ten lengths at Catterick in January before contesting a jumpers bumper at Newcastle last time. Despite the fact he lacks jumping experience and isn’t the biggest, we are going to send him novice chasing. His schooling has gone well and I think he will develop into a nice chaser over two and a half miles.
SOUTH TERRACE (IRE) 5 b g Fame And Glory – Supreme Sales (IRE)
A nice type, he ran in a couple of Irish points (disqualified after winning on the second occasion) before finishing runner-up in a bumper at Wexford in March. He has settled in well and has done everything we have asked of him at home. The plan is for him to start off at either Wetherby or Carlisle this week. His long-term future lies over fences.
SUNSET WEST (IRE) 5 b g Westerner – Sunshine Haven (IRE)
Similar to South Terrace, he had some good form in Irish points being placed four times before getting his head in front on his final start. He has worked nicely at home and will run in a novice hurdle this week at Wetherby or Carlisle.
THEFLICKERINGLIGHT (IRE) 6 b m Flemensfirth (USA) – Turtle Lamp (IRE)
Enjoyed a good season over hurdles winning at Newcastle and Wetherby before finishing third at Ayr last time. She is nearly ready to run and we are going to send her chasing. She won a couple of Irish point-to-points before we bought her and she ought to make a nice mare over fences. We will run her in mares’ novice chases over two and a half miles but she wouldn’t want extremes of ground.
TOP VILLE BEN (IRE) 8 b g Beneficial – Great Decision (IRE)
We were preparing him for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the end of the month but unfortunately he suffered a setback last week and won’t be back in action until the spring. He was doing a piece of work but we found he had a hairline fracture and will therefore need time to get over that. In all likelihood, he will be given an entry in the Grand National but a race such as the Grade 1 Bowl at the same meeting could suit him. He was third at the track in a Grade 1 novice chase behind Lostintranslation and Topofthegame. Still only eight, he had a good season last year winning the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby and he is now rated 162.
WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF (IRE) 6 b g Dylan Thomas (IRE) – Dame Foraine (FR)
He is a lovely horse who was unlucky not to win a decent handicap hurdle last season. A faller two out at Cheltenham nearly a year ago, he then finished runner-up in a valuable handicap at Haydock’s Betfair Chase meeting. A big galloping horse, he has schooled well over fences at home and will go novice chasing. He is likely to make his chasing debut at either Wetherby (Wednesday) or Carlisle (Thursday) this week.
Mark Howard, author of One Jump Ahead & Racing TV
One Jump Ahead, which includes interviews with Kim Bailey, Harry Fry, Chris Gordon, Philip Hobbs, Anthony Honeyball, Alan King, Tom Lacey, Olly Murphy, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O’Neill, David Pipe and Nicky Richards, plus leading owner Rich Ricci and three times Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Henrietta Knight, can be purchased for £10.99 (including postage) from www.mhpublications.co.uk
