A – is for Al Boum Photo. Was unlucky at Limerick at Christmas and stayed on really well at Leopardstown on his last start behind Monalee. On that run, he’s a solid RSA Chase horse.
B – is for Bacardys. Hasn’t had a great season over fences and reverts to hurdles. Has schooled well at home and you can wipe out his run in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle last year. He looks to have a good each-way chance in a wide-open Stayers Hurdle.
C – is for Carter McKay. Stepped up to 2m 6f the last day and kept on well in the end. He looks an Albert Bartlett horse and he should be am each-way price.
D – is for Douvan. It would be wonderful to have him there in great form. He hasn’t run since he was pulled up at last year’s festival, however Willie Mullins is happy with how he’s going. He’s being aimed at the Champion Chase, but the next few days are going to be an important day in Douvan’s career.
E – is for Eoline Jolie. She’s a filly that the public know very little about. She comes from France, where she won her only race and she goes well. She runs in the Triumph Hurdle.
F – is for Faugheen, oh the mighty Faugheen. Well, I wish he could come back to the mighty Faugheen anyway. His Morgiana Hurdle win was great, but his two subsequent runs won’t do. Buveur D’Air will be hard to beat, however if there’s a horse in the Champion Hurdle who could beat him, it will be a back-to-his-best Faugheen.
G – is for Getabird. He surprised me with the turn of foot he showed to win the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. He was a very good bumper horse, he stays well, which is what you need to win a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He’ll be a great ride in the first race.
H – is for Hollowgraphic. This is a horse Willie Mullins absolutely loves. He’s on course for Cheltenham and his bumper form is very solid.
I – is for Invitation Only. He jumped and travelled really well behind Monalee at Leopardstown and he looked a JLT horse that day. He’s in very good form at home, it looks an open race and he has a right chance at the festival.
J – is for Johnny Henderson Grand Annual. It’s a race I won on St Pirran in 2004 and at the minute, Townshend might be what I’m on this year. We’ve always thought he was well handicapped and hopefully good ground will bring out the best in him.
K – is for Killultagh Vic. He was unlucky when he fell at the last fence in the Irish Gold Cup, when I thought he would have won. He’s a high-class horse and beat Thistlecrack as a novice hurdler, but he is inexperienced over fences for a race like the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
L – is for Let’s Dance. She’s had an in and out sort of a season but she’s starting to work nicely at home. She’s looking like running over three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle and I’ve no doubt that she’ll stay the trip.
M – is for Min. He’s unbeaten over fences apart from being disqualified and was very good at Leopardstown on his last start. Obviously, he has to improve from his novice hurdle form to beat Altior, but he’s doing everything right.
N – is for Next Destination. His novice hurdle form has been rock solid. It was a bit of a messy race the last day, but he runs in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. He has Samcro to beat, however somebody has to take him on.
O – is for Orion d’Aubrelle. He has a few entries in the handicaps and as of yet, he hasn’t brought to the racetrack what he can do at home. He’s working nicely at home and could be a lively outsider in whatever race he runs in.
P – is for Penhill. He won the Albert Bartlett last year and we haven’t seen him on the track since the Punchestown festival. He runs in the Stayers’ Hurdle and while it will be hard to win on his first start back, he’s in great order.
Q – is for Quevega and while she won’t be lining up on the Tuesday, I hope that Benie Des Dieux might follow in her hoofprints in the Mares Hurdle. She’s won twice this season and while Apple’s Jade will be tough to take on, Benie could be great each-way value.
R – is for Rathvinden. He’ll probably run in the National Hunt Chase and he was very good earlier in the season. He’s flying in under the radar and will run a big race.
S – is for Stormy Ireland. She was brilliant on her only start in Fairyhouse, where she won a furlong. She can only beat what’s put in front of her and she runs in the Triumph Hurdle, which looks like a great race.
T – is for Total Recall. He’s been a massive improver right throughout the season and is three for three in races worth over €100k. He has to step up again to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup and who knows where horses can go when they’re improving.
U – is for Un De Sceaux. He was brilliant in the Ryanair Chase last year and the ground will be nice for him to defend his crown. He’s a magnificent little horse, a pleasure to ride and I’m looking forward to riding him.
V – is for Voix du Reve. He’s had an in and out career, and fell in the Fred Winter a couple of years ago. He’ll probably run in the Coral Cup and if he recaptured his best form, he’d have a chance.
W – is for Wicklow Brave. He’s a lively outsider in the Champion Hurdle and he’s in really good form at home. He hasn’t run over hurdles since he won in Punchestown and has been to Melbourne since. He’s in really good form and he definitely represents value.
X – is for Xenephon, who I remember riding en route to his 2002 Coral Cup victory. The Coral Cup is a race that I haven’t had much luck in, however Sandsend might change that. He’s one of plenty of possibilities for Willie in the race.
Y – is for Yorkhill. He hasn’t had a great season and his two runs in Leopardstown have been disappointing. Willie is talking about dropping him back in trip for the Champion Hurdle and I know he’s a horse with an unbelievable amount of ability. He’s a head-scratcher!
Z – is for Zero, which is a number that I don’t think about. I’m hoping Laurina will stop me from ending on zero because she’s my banker of the week.
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