Jonathan Burke
SIZING GRANITE
7yo br g (/91U111-2)
Milan - Hazel’s Tisrara
Paddy Power ’So Quick, So Easy iPhone App’ Chase (Grade 1)
He is a genuine Grade 1 horse and you can forgive him his first run of the season as he was beaten by race fit horses. But he has improved a lot for it and he is well. He has won around the track before and I am looking forward to riding him. He is a real two-miler and he is a very good jumper. It won’t be easy against the likes of Un De Sceaux but I couldn’t be happier with my horse.
SIZING GOLD
8yo b g (/22125/126/0-3)
Flemensfirth - Mandys Gold
Paddy Power Chase
He ran a real good race after a long layoff at Navan and he will go for the Paddy Power Chase. He is in good order and I’d like to think that he has improved for that. It will be a very competitive race, but he gave me a lovely feel a Navan and with a bit of luck, he’ll run a big race. Grand Jesture is in that race too and on his day he is a good horse.
BRYAN COOPER
NO MORE HEROES
6yo br g (/411/1153-511)
Presenting - What A Breeze
Neville Hotel Novice Chase (Grade 1)
He was very good at Fairyhouse in the Drinmore and he seems to be in great form. Three miles around Leopardstown should suit him but there are some very good horses in the race so it will be a tough test for him. I always felt that three miles over fences would bring out the best in him - he is also in the three-mile race at Kempton (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase). Hopefully he’ll run a big race wherever he goes. Christmas time will be another stepping stone for him.
SIZING JOHN
5yo b g (6/41213-211)
Midnight Legend - La Perrotine
Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)
Sizing John won me my first Grade 1 last season and he has always looked a horse that would improve for the switch to fences. He was very good at Punchestown and he seems to have improved since. He’ll run on St Stephen’s Day in the Grade 1 (Racing Post Novice Chase) and it looks a very hot race. Douvan beat us last season over hurdles and he looked very good at Navan and he will be very hard to beat but I am very happy with my horse and I am really looking forward to riding him.
SHARK HANLON
CAPE CITY BOY
4yo b g ( 213-3)
Cape Cross - Marine City
Clayton Hotel Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle
At The Races Maiden Hurdle
He was third the last day in what looked a good maiden hurdle and he won a bumper for us last season. I think he is a real good horse and he’ll go for the four-year-old maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. I think he has improved a nice bit but these maiden hurdles are very hard to win. He’ll go there in great form and I think he’ll run a big race.
HIDDEN CYCLONE
10yo b g F (1) NH (/FF216-341U3)
Stowaway - Hurricane Debbie
Paddy Power So Quick, So Easy iPhone App’ Chase (Grade 1)
He jumped badly right the last day but we found a problem afterwards. He was very good at Navan and I think we can put a line through his last two runs. He likes it around Leopardstown and he was very unlucky not to win this race before, so he’ll give it a go but Un De Sceaux will be very hard to beat.
STOWAWAY SHARK
6yo b g (17/)
Stowaway - Anno Mundi
Copper Face Jacks Maiden Hurdle
He is a huge big horse that is crying out to go jumping so he’ll go for a two and a half mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. He won’t come into his own until he goes chasing but I like this horse and I think he’ll give a very good account of himself.
JESSICA HARRINGTON
TTEBBOB
6yo b g (/3601B2-511)
Milan - Our Dream
Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)
He’ll go for the Racing Post Novice Chase. He has done nothing wrong so far over fences and we know that he stays further. He was very good at Navan and it will be a very good race – as good a novice chase as you’ll see at this stage of the year. It will be a big step up in class for him but I think he’ll run very well. The fences are good and big around Navan and he was slick and quick over them. He has come out of the race in great form.
WOODLAND OPERA
5yo br g (1-1)
Robin Des Champs - Opera Hat
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
He’ll go for the Grade 1 two-mile novice hurdle. He won well at Navan and I hope that he runs a big race. I see him as a future chaser, but he is unbeaten and we’ll learn a good bit more about him next week. It will be a big step up in class for him, but he seems to be very well so we’ll let him take his chance.
HIGH STRATOS
6yo b g F (3-) NH (144/101-7P3)
Montjeu - Hyabella
Signplus Hurdle
He is a nice horse and he ran well the other day on his first run since the spring when third to Thomas Hobson at Punchestown and he’ll go for a winners of one at Limerick. I’d be hopeful of a big run from him down there.
OUR DUKE
5yo b g (12)
Oscar - Good Thyne Jenny
He has done well for us in bumpers and he might start off in a two and a half mile maiden hurdle next week. He is a horse that I have always liked and he looks a chaser. He does jump we and If he doesn’t run next week, he will go for a maiden hurdle in the middle of January.
BOLD BID
3yo b g F (46534624) NH (U3)
Big Bad Bob - Magpie
Paddy Power Download Our New iPhone App’ 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle
He will go for a three-year-old maiden hurdle and he ran a nice race when third at Punchestown and I think he has come for that. He has that bit of experience over hurdles as well and that should stand to him.
DON’T TOUCH IT
5yo b g (42-212)
Scorpion - Shandora
Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle
Paddy Power Maiden Hurdle
He has won a bumper for us and he ran a very good race on his first run over hurdles at Gowran Park when second to Stone Hard. He schooled the other day and he jumped super and he’ll go for a maiden hurdle. He seems to be in very good order and seems to handle any ground.
SANDRA HUGHES
GUITAR PETE
5yo 10 gr g F (869853/) NH (/636-21325)
Dark Angel - Innishmore
KNOCKANARRIGAN
7yo b g (62/111-71B)
Shantou - Ruby Thewes
Paddy Power Chase
They are both in the Paddy Power and I’d say they will both run. Guitar Pete has his share of weight in that but he rarely runs a bad race and he won’t mind soft ground. Rossvoss beat him the last day at Punchestown and it was good to see him boost that form when he won over hurdles at Navan. Knockanarrigan likes a bit of decent ground and he needs a good few to drop out to make the cut but if he has his conditions he could run a nice race off a light weight.
WRATH OF TITANS
6yo b g (4/231034-316)
Oscar - Glen Empress
Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1)
He’ll run over the Christmas. He was very good the first day when he won over fences at Fairyhouse, but he ran poorly after that at Punchehstown. Nothing came to light since, so I am going to put a line through that run. He seems to very well in himself and I am looking forward to running him.
WILLIE MULLINS
DOUVAN
5yo b g (21111-11)
Walk In The Park - Star Face
Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)
All is well with him. It is going to be a tough race as there are some very good horses in the race with more experience (over fences) than him. But I was happy with Douvan at Navan and the most important thing for them on their first run over fences is to put in a clear round and to get a good experience. They will go a good gallop at Leopardstown and it will be a fair test for him.
UN DE SCEAUX
7yo b g (1/111/11111/F111-1
Denham Red - Hotesse De Sceaux
Paddy Power So Quick, So Easy iPhone App’ Chase (Grade 1)
He worked on Saturday and I was very happy with him. I just hope that he remains in the sort of order that he was in at the weekend. It will be tough, but we are looking forward to it. Felix Yonger was good at Navan and he might go there – we’ll see.
SIR DES CHAMPS
9yo b g F (630/6/) NH ((/11111/24121/F4/1)
Robin Des Champs - Liste En Tete
DON POLI
6yo b g (2/2111/2111-51)
Poliglote - Dalamine
Lexus Chase Grade 1
They will both go for The Lexus. Djakadam is still in the race and I am not fully decided as to what I’ll do with him. He won the John Durkan, but this race might come soon enough to let him run. I’ll make my mind up about him closer to the time. Both Don Poli and Sir Des Champs love a test of stamina and they do their best work at the finish. I think the Lexus will suit them in that respect.
NICHOLS CANYON
5yo b g F (1/3267121/0 NH (11U131-11)
Authorized - Zam Zoom
ARCTIC FIRE
6yo b g F (1/2-) NH (/123322F-211)
Soldier Hollow - Adelma
Ryanair Hurdle Grade 1
They are both in good form and they will go for the Ryanair Hurdle on the last day at Leopardstown.