Dinoblue

She ran a cracker in Cheltenham last year when just beaten by Limerick Lace in the same colours. She'd been very good over shorter trips and will probably start off in the Barberstown Castle in Naas like she did last year and work her way through a similar programme, going twice to Leopardstown and then on to Cheltenham. With all that experience under her belt hopefully she can go one better this year.

El Fabiolo

You'd have to head towards the Champion Chase or Ryanair. Last season we thought he was a Champion Chase type but his jumping let him down at Cheltenham and it was the same at Sandown. Maybe he wants a longer trip to have more time over his fences rather than going that pace if he's not comfortable. There's every chance he could go out in trip and that shouldn't be a problem for him on pedigree by Spanish Moon out of a Saint des Saints mare. There's plenty of stamina there. He had an early-season setback so might not come out until Christmas but other than that he's in good shape.

Embassy Gardens

He's a lovely work horse at home. He had been doing everything right up to the National Hunt Chase and I wonder did he not see out the distance? You’d think he might be a Grand National horse but I have a doubt in my mind about whether he'll stay those extended trips. He's only rated 150 so he could still be very competitive in handicaps and I've got to ask myself should I be trying shorter trips with him? He's out of a Network mare. If he runs like how he works at home I think he can improve on his rating. He could be well handicapped over a shorter trip and he loves jumping.

Energumene

I'm delighted with Energumene. He's hitting all his targets and came in with the rest of the horses and we haven't had one setback with him. We'll be looking at the two-mile route again so possibly start in the Hilly Way at Cork.

Ethical Diamond

He's a horse with a lot of potential and has some experience over hurdles. He's going to miss the first half of the season but if I can get him right he'll pay his way in the second half. Looking at his run at Royal Ascot he's a horse you could follow for his Flat season as well after his hurdling campaign.

Fact To File

He's one of the friendliest horses in the place, he's so inquisitive and always out over the door looking out at what's going on. He won three out of four last year with the last two Grade 1s. He took to jumping naturally and he looks like that type of horse when you see him out. Usually a horse like this aiming for the Gold Cup we'd start off in the John Durkan and then aim for Christmas - there's the King George and other races then so we'll see how he gets on with his first race and then take it from there. Usually if we have a Gold Cup horse we have a fairly predictable route there. We'll have a word with JP [McManus, owner] Frank [Berry, racing manager] and Mark [Walsh, jockey] and see how the horse takes his first run. He's a fairly straightforward horse.

I think he couldn't be much better than he was last year physically. He developed quite early. If he could hold the same type of muscle he had last year I'd be happy.

I think he has so much ability. It's always a hard year transitioning from novice to open company and I think this fellow has all the attributes you'd need to be an open horse.

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