IT’S been a very good week for Gavin Cromwell. He saddled his first Group 2 winner when Princess Yaiza won at ParisLongchamp last Saturday and he recorded his first domestic flat double at Cork on Wednesday when Fuwairt and Innamore won their respective races and had another double at Downpatrick yesterday.
Overall, it’s been a fine year for Cromwell, with the obvious highlight the success of Raz De Maree in the Welsh Grand National in January. The 13-year-old could start off his season in the Munster National at Limerick tomorrow.
“We have a nice team of horses and I have great staff here. They all know what they have to do and we have good routine here and it works. The horses are very well and when they are in good form, you are confident that they’ll run well. It is going to be very competitive over during the winter, and to be honest, I’d do with a few more horses. We have added on a new barn in the last year and I have plans to expand things a bit more. We have some lovely four-year olds, some of which will go point to pointing. ‘
He uses Ger Fox and Brien Kane who still claims a valuable a 5lbs and will have around 40 in for the winter, which would be a combination of flat and jumps horses and a few of them will mix it over the winter.
Sadly, Jers Girl is on the easy list and Cromwell explained: “She had a little setback and she is gone back to Martinstown. Hopefully we’ll have her back for the spring.
“I am planning an open day soon to tryto attract new clients, but I have to say, I have great owners. We have an open-door policy here and I encourage then to come down and see the horses.
“Things are going well, and while it will be very competitive during the winter, we’ll do our best with the horses that we have. We can do no more than that.”
ASLEAGH DAWN
5yo b f (97712064)
Milan - Aasleagh Lady
Rollx Syndicate
She won over hurdles earlier in the year for us and she likes a bit of good ground, but she disappointed me at Ludlow the
other day. We’ll get her home and check her out and I’m sure that she is a good bit better than that. We’ll look for another race or two for her before the ground changes, as she can’t handle real soft ground. She’ll jump a fence.
AINMISFEARR
3yo b f
Famous Name - Virevolle
Ms Pauline Twiss & Derek Twiss
She didn’t run on the flat. I like her and she jumps well and she will start off in a juvenile hurdle in the next few weeks. She has plenty done and she might take a run, as she lacks experience, but I think she’ll win her maiden hurdle before too long.
ARCHERS UP
5yo b g (NH :550227) (F: /500-12907)
Archipenko - Nadeszhda
Ms Pauline Twiss & Derek Twiss
He has been second over hurdles and I’d say that we’ll leave him alone now and campaign him at Dundalk over the winter over a mile and a half plus. He is a nice horse that I think will develop into a nice novice hurdler next summer and I think he’ll be capable of winning at Dundalk.
BIDDY THE BOSS
5yo b f (6-24802215)
Doyen - Thiarnathoir
Kilbriens Syndicate
She has won her bumper and maiden hurdle and she will start off novice chasing soon enough. She has done well for us and she will be kept on the go over the winter.
She is a grand mare, and while the novice chase division will be very competitive, I think she’ll be fine and, touch wood, she does jump fences well.
BREX DRAGO
6yo b g NH: (00087111) F: (0008267-)
Mujahid - Shibuni’s Thea
Marhan Limited
He in the Cesarewitch on Sunday and the chances are, that he’ll go there. He has won three over hurdles for us this summer and he has improved and thrived over the last few months.
Sunday’s race looks very strong, but it’s worth a go - he also has the option of a listed novice hurdle at Limerick. He was a very good horse on the flat - he won nine on the flat before he came to me. Two miles at Navan won’t be an issue for him and while he has to keep stepping up, he is nearly there as a novice hurdler and he will run away over the winter as he handles soft ground.
CALLTHEBARMAN
4yo b g (6078P1-198806)
Lord Shanakill - African Scene
J M Hughes
He might have one more run before we leave him off. He is a small little horse and he appreciates good ground and we’ll have him back there for next summer.
CLASH OF D TITANS
5yo b g (2/5326-66)
Gold Well - Give Us A Look
Swans High Stool Syndicate
He is a nice big horse and he has run twice run over fences and I can see him making into a nice staying chaser over the winter. He’ll handle proper winter ground and I think he’ll develop into a grand chaser.
EJAYTEEKAY
5yo b f (-10127344)
Big Bad Bob - Lovely Dream
C B Poots
She has done well for us and she won a nice pot over hurdles at Cork during the summer and she has won three on the flat and twice over hurdles and she is a right good servant.
She might run at the weekend, but there is a good novice chase at Punchestown next week and if that cut up into a small field, she could go there.
She was fourth in a graded chase at Roscommon and it would be great to get some blacktype. She should win her novice chase, but she likes good ground, so she’ll have a break over the winter.
ESPOIR D’ALLEN
4yo b g (1/11114-)
Voix Du Nord - Quadanse
J.P. McManus
He’ll probably start off in the Fishery Lane at Naas in a couple of weeks’ time. He is in great shape. It won’t be easy for him this season but he has developed into a nice horse and we’ll see how Naas goes and we can make a plan for him after that. I’d say he’ll definitely remain over hurdles this season.
GAGA’S HORSE
7yo b g (U342/13423-)
Kayf Tara - Suave Shot
A Syndicate
He is a fine big horse that came to me from Adrian Maguire’s. We are still feeling our way with him and you’d imagine that he’ll start back there in a few weeks in a handicap hurdle and we can take it from there. He will jump a fence but I like him and he has loads of scope.
ILIKEDWAYURTHINKIN
4yo b g ( 62-)
Yeats - Sway
J.P McManus
He was placed in a couple of maiden hurdles and he is not a bad type of horse. He should win his hurdle and he’ll get further than two miles. He likes slow ground and he isn’t far off a run.
IT HAS TO BE
7yo g (/312136-3000)
Kalanisi - Amathea
Old Pals Syndicate
He is a lowly-rated handicapper and he is one that we might travel with. He will handle winter ground and hopefully he’ll be able to win a handicap over the winter.
JEREMY’S FLAME
4yo b f (43)
Jeremy - Supreme Beneficial
Flushfarm Racing Syndicate
She was third during the week at Galway in a bumper and she is a fine big mare that will handle winter ground. She is a real nice mare and she’ll have another go at a bumper but I think we’ve yet to see the best of her and she does stay very well. She will, I’d imagine, go jumping over the winter, but I think she is capable of winning a bumper first.
LADY ISCHIA
6yo b m (2/1527-)
Getaway - Summer Flight
James O’Rourke and Mrs Mary O’Rourke
She is a lovely mare and she will go for a maiden hurdle on October 24th at Cork.
That race is over two and a half miles and she is a lovely big mare that has won her bumper and has picked up blacktype already in a listed bumper at Navan.
We like her and I’d be very hopeful, that she will develop into a useful mare over hurdles. She loves soft ground.
LEVER DU SOLEIL
3yo b g (NH: 332) (F: 33133)
Le Havre - Morning Dust
Sunrise Partnership
He was an average horse on the flat but he had taken well to jumping hurdles and he has been placed a few times over hurdles.
He has a bit of potential as a hurdler and I’d be hopeful that he’ll win his maiden and we’ll just have to see after that. He has improved with every run so far and he loves jumping. I’d imagine that he will mix it over hurdles and the flat next year.
MING DYNASTY
6yo b g NH: (89)
F: (81/1555-7520)
King’s Best – Memoire
Martin Hannan
He has some very good flat form and initially, he was a bit tricky train, but he is coming right and he isn’t too far off a run over hurdles.
He was a right good horse – he was fourth in a Hong Kong Vase. He probably will never be the horse that he was, but I think he’ll make into a nice hurdler over the winter.
MOONBALL
4yo b f (0-6014621)
Kapgarde - Set Et Match
Jrm Racing Syndicate
She won by 15 lengths on Friday at Downpatrick. She was only touched off in a rated beginners’ chase last week and she has won around Tramore on good ground. She is a grand mare with a great attitude. We’ll keep her on the go while she has her ground and we’ll give her a break over the winter.
POLITICAL POLICY
7yo b g (NH: 3-114473) F: 2-530220)
Bushranger - Alexander Express
F W Lynch
He has been a great servant and he has developed into a nice summer hurdler. We’ll try to find another race for him over hurdles but I’d like to give him a break. He loves Dundalk but he has been a right horse for us and his last two runs would suggest that he might win a good hurdle for us next year on good ground.
PROSPECTUS
5yo b g NH: (171P/42832-)
F: (5518/42-12)
Sakhee - Some Sunny Day
McAlpine Syndicate
He is back in good form and ground permitting, he’ll go to Galway for a handicap hurdle at the end of October. I’d like to try him back on the flat but he must have soft ground and he won’t go anywhere until he has real soft ground.
He will be aimed at some of the nicer handicap hurdles over two miles plus. He has schooled over fences and he jumps well. Hopefully he’ll have a good season. I think two and a half miles is his best trip.
RAZ DE MAREE
13yo ch g (UP0/F2210-)
Shaanmer - Diyala III
James J Swan
He is the star of the show and he will start off at Limerick on Sunday - if the ground is safe. After that he’ll go to Cork for the National down there and everything is geared around having another go at the Welsh Grand National. He can’t go far enough and he loves that really heavy winter ground. He is in great form and he is some horse for his age.
SOLEGLAD
6yo b g (40958-0568)
Scorpion - Tilaiya
Darren Cahill
He has been a bit disappointing. He won his bumper, but he seemed to lose his way a bit afterwards. We had his wind done and he prefers good ground. He’ll be out again before the ground changes and I’d like to think he might get through a little handicap before we give him a break.
SPADES ARE TRUMPS
5yo b g (312P0-)
Yeats - Sway
J.P. McManus
He is a full-brother to Ilikedwayurthinkin. He looked a nice horse early last season when he won his maiden hurdle but was a bit disappointing towards the end of last season. He is back after a break and I’d imagine that he will remain over hurdles.
TRIXIE MC
5yo b m (437)
Yeats - Miss Cozzene
Chris McDonnell
She was placed in a couple of bumpers before she ran way below par at Ludlow on Wednesday. We’ll see if anything turns up when we get her home but she is better than that and we’ll look for another bumper for her before we send her over hurdles.
UNRACED HORSES
A LADIES MILAN
4yo b g
Milan - Rags Lady
Angela Cromwell
He is shaping up nicely and he is a month off a run. I think he’ll be competitive in a point-to-point and he goes well.
BENTHAM
4yo b g
Jeremy – Detonante
I am not sure if he’ll go for a bumper or a point-to-point. He is a nice horse and I want to get him away on the grass first and then we’ll make up our minds.