Footpad off to America

FOOTPAD was taken out of his Cheltenham engagements this week and is was then confirmed that the eight-year-old has been sold to continue his career in America.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Issac Souede, confirmed to the PA news agency that Footpad has been sold to race in the US.

A Grade 1 winner over hurdles and 14-length winner of the Arkle Trophy in 2018 for Willie Mullins, the son of Creachadoir won 11 races in total for Mullins including six Grade 1 events.

However, Footpad failed to recapture his best form in three starts last term – and while he made a successful start to the current campaign at Thurles in November, he was a well-beaten third in the King George VI Chase and proved no match for Real Steel when odds-on for a Grade 2 in Thurles last month.

Brassil plans

City Island is set to lead Martin Brassil’s three-strong team into battle at next month’s Festival. The seven-year-old provided his trainer with a first victory at the meeting last season in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

He made a disappointing start to his career over fences in two outings and connections decided to revert to the smaller obstacles for a tilt at the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.

Brassil said this week: “It’s all systems go for the Stayers’ Hurdle. He seems in very good form. I know the chasing hasn’t gone to plan, but we’re very happy with him and we know he likes Cheltenham. It will be a good race, but hopefully he’ll go back there and run well.”

City Island is likely to be joined by stable companions Longhouse Poet and You Raised Me Up. Longhouse Poet was last seen finishing third behind Latest Exhibition in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival, with You Raised Me Up third in the Ladbrokes Hurdle.

Brassil added: “I was very happy with Longhouse Poet’s last run. At the moment we’d be favouring the two-five (Ballymore), mainly because we think we have a better chance of getting soft ground on the Wednesday than the Friday.

“We’ll enter You Raised Me Up in the three races in Cheltenham – the Coral Cup, the County Hurdle and the Martin Pipe. We’ll see what sort of mark he gets in England compared to his Irish mark.

Champion Hurdle

Coeur Sublime is on course to head straight to the Champion Hurdle. Writing on his bookmakers.co.uk blog, jockey Keith Donoghue said: “He had his procedure and while he hasn’t faced very hard work yet, he’s in good form and is building up towards the Festival. The Champion Hurdle is weaker than other years and I still think he has his chance.”