GAVIN Cromwell had three Dublin Racing Festival winners last weekend and on Monday he had two more winners at Punchestown which ensured that this is going to be his best season numerically – and there is plenty of racing to come.

Just 11 years ago, the former farrier trained a solitary winner over jumps and his rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

In that time, there has been a Champion Hurdle success with the ill-fated Espoir D’Allen, two Stayers’ Hurdles for Flooring Porter, three other high-profile Cheltenham Festival winners, two Royal Ascot winners (both two-year-olds), and a Group 2 winner in France. Just before Christmas he had a winner in Bahrain.

Talk about versatility - from five furlongs to four miles, from the lowest grade of handicappers to the marquee races - Gavin Cromwell’s runners demand respect.

One of Monday’s Punchestown winners, Vanillier, is a good example of his trainer’s skills. Winner of a Grade 1 novice hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, the grey finished second in a Grand National just two years later. He lost his form a bit after that but – with blinkers fitted – roared back to life this week and who knows where he could end up this spring.

The trainer hosted a media event at his Balrath, Co Meath, yard on Tuesday morning. It was organised by Jockey Club Racecourses with a view towards promoting the Cheltenham Festival.

After giving the press a tour of his ever-expanding facilities, Cromwell spoke about plans for his stable stars.

“Someone asked me the other day how many runners would I have at Cheltenham and I replied ‘10 or 12’,” he said. “Then Troy (Cullen), who does our race planning, told me he has 34 on his list! Now, they all won’t run but there’s 34 possible entries.”

Other key members of the team include head lad Garvan Donnelly and former trainer Pat Martin, who just joined two weeks ago.

“We have great staff, I don’t like to leave anyone out,” Cromwell said, adding that jockey Keith Donoghue also played a big part.

Keith Donoghue (left) and Sean Flanagan (right) lead the team of work riders back down the gallop \ Healy Racing

AL GASPARO

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

I don’t know if he has improved again since Christmas but he’s in great form. It’s important to keep him fresh.

BIOLUMINESENCE

Mares’ Chase

She’s very ground-dependent, loves heavy ground, so will only run at Cheltenham if it’s soft. Brides Hill and Only By Night will also be entered for the Mares’ Chase. Brides Hill won’t run if the ground is soft. Only By Night is pretty versatile and she could run too.

CHAMPAGNE JURY

Champion Bumper

A good winner at Naas, he will probably be our only entry for the race. He’s only run in one bumper but he ran in two point-to-points and, as a six-year-old, he’s a hardened sort of horse. He’ll be fine on any ground.

HELLO NEIGHBOUR

Triumph Hurdle

He’s unbeaten in four starts and I think he will improve again. They didn’t go very quick last weekend, which was a negative for us. The hood helped him a bit but I think he would have settled better if they went faster. He jumped pretty good and I think he learned plenty. He’s very versatile as regards ground.

We’re looking forward to the Triumph, a proper-run race. The two English horses at the head of the market look smart.

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN

Grand National

I was delighted with his run in the Irish Gold Cup (finished fourth). He was a little bit novicey, missed the fourth last which knocked him back a bit, but he was good at the line.

He’s in the Grand National wasn’t originally the plan, and it’s far from definite that he’ll go there. He’ll probably have an entry in the Irish National and he’ll probably have an entry in the Bowl. I’m not sure where he’s going to go.

His jumping is actually an awful lot better this year than it was last season. Okay, he won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and a Grade 1 at Aintree but he didn’t jump well either of those days, he was very slow and still won. This year his jumping has improved a lot.

KING OF PRS

Grand Annual Handicap Chase

He will more than likely run. Midnight It Is could run in this race too even though he was a bit disappointing last weekend.

LIMERICK LACE

Mares’ Chase/Grand National

I don’t know why she hasn’t sparked yet this season. She’s been very disappointing, to be honest. On both occasions she went to races in great form, her work was very good, but she never went at all, she travelled with her head in the air and didn’t really want to know about it.

MY MATE MOZZIE

Grand Annual Handicap Chase

He ran well again last weekend but, typical of him, he didn’t hit the line. He weakened in the last furlong. Keith (Donoghue) dropped him right out at the back and they went a strong pace up front. They all came back to him except for the winner. A flat track would help him but he’s just a weak finisher. He wants nice ground so he definitely won’t go to Cheltenham if there’s an ease there.

NOW IS THE HOUR

NH Chase/Kim Muir

The softer the ground the better for him.

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS

Grand National

I’d say there’s a good chance he could go straight to Aintree. We’ve had a fantastic year with him. He won the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas and another 100 grand handicap hurdle at the weekend. Everything just fell right for him in the Paddy Power – you could run those big races 10 times and you could get 10 different results. I know he won well but I don’t see any other reason for it.

Then last weekend he was so well in off his hurdles mark. It was the first time he ran over hurdles since winning the same race two years ago.

He will be off a career-high mark at Aintree but he’s still a nice runner to have.

SIXANDAHALF

Mares’ Novice Hurdle

She’s been in very good form since winning on her hurdles debut. She’s working well but won’t run again before Cheltenham. She doesn’t need and more schooling – she’s very good to jump. She went around in a few schooling races before she ran so that gave her a bit of experience. She’s stays well but she’s not slow either. I’m very happy with her – it will take a nice one to beat her.

STUMPTOWN

Cross-Country Handicap Chase

He’s really taken to it very well. It’ll be interesting to see what mark the handicapper puts him in at but he’s in good form and will go straight there.

THECOMPANYSERGEANT

Novice Handicap Chase

This is our dark horse. He has only had one run for us, over hurdles before Christmas, and he has improved since.

VANILLIER

Cross Country/Grand National

He could go straight to Aintree or he could run in either the Cross Country or the Bobbyjo beforehand. He finished second in the National before and maybe that was his chance gone. He is a veteran now. The blinkers certainly revved him up at Punchestown this week. He enjoyed it. Having said that, I’ve noticed in the last two to three weeks that he’s started to come alive a bit. He doesn’t need soft ground. I was afraid of the ground this week as his wind is only okay and heavy ground can catch him out. But he lacks a gear on good ground.

VELVET ELVIS

Punchestown Grand National Trial

He has an entry for the Grand National trial at Haydock but he is much better racing right-handed. He has an entry in the National Trial at Punchestown on February 18th and then probably Fairyhouse. He needs soft ground and bear in mind that Fairyhouse comes later than usual this year. Yeah Man will probably go back to Haydock for the race he won there last year.