All About Lucy

(Eoin McCarthy)

Fairyhouse, February 8th

THERE likely wasn’t a massive amount of depth in opposition to Lot Of Joy when the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old readily got off the mark in a two-mile mares’ maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse, but it was encouraging to see All About Lucy shape as well as she did when beaten 15 and a half lengths in third. Despite having won a point-to-point on soft to heavy ground, she looked very comfortable on this yielding surface and made eyecatching headway into the business end of the race. It was a performance that represented a massive step forward from the John Sayer-owned six-year-old’s introduction to hurdles at Limerick over Christmas.

Cato’s Revenge

(Philip Rothwell)

Thurles, February 9th

Judging by his SP of 50/1 on both starts in his career, Cato’s Revenge has run well above expectations in bumpers and looks up to winning races if getting a clear run over the coming months. This six-year-old by Notnowcato missed 647 days after a fairly promising debut when third at Down Royal in May 2021, and there was definite progress from that run when filling the same position behind a couple of useful types who arrived with reasonable form at Thurles. Given his long absence, the John Leckey-owned performer is well entitled to improve.

Byker

(Charles Byrnes)

Naas, February 11th

Charles Byrnes could have a live Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle contender on his hands in the shape of Byker, who arguably shaped as well as any of his rivals with a view to the Cheltenham Festival in last weekend’s four-year-old hurdle at Naas. Rated 76 on the flat when trained by Richard Hannon, the Le Havre gelding was turning out less than a fortnight after winning a maiden hurdle over the same course and distance and this experience will not be lost on him. He travelled well enough to suggest he could relish a big-handicap test like the Boodles, and an opening Irish hurdles mark of 124 looks workable.

Falvio

(Tony Martin)

Naas, February 11th

It was difficult to make a strong case for Polish-bred Falvio on the basis of his Irish form since joining Tony Martin, but the now 95-rated hurdler delivered his best effort yet on these shores when staying on strongly for second in a handicap hurdle over just shy of two miles. There appeared to be market confidence behind the winner of a Deauville all-weather claimer last August, and he rattled home here after the winner couldn’t be caught. Expect him to go one better in similar company off a 3lb higher mark.

Jump The Shark

(Gavin Cromwell)

Naas, February 11th

There was also a promising showing in the same handicap hurdle from Jump The Shark, a brother to useful novice hurdler Itswhatunitesus by Walk In The Park. The J.P. McManus-owned five-year-old was well beaten in a trio of decent maiden hurdles but shaped as though he is beginning to find his feet now switched to handicap company with a handicap rating of 97 (raised 1lb to 98 after this run). Gavin Cromwell’s unexposed youngster came home encouragingly from off the pace and looks capable of winning one of these before long.

Imagine

(Gordon Elliott)

Navan, February 12th

Gordon Elliott likes to target the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, named after his old boss, and the leading trainer’s next big player for the final race of the Cheltenham Festival could be Imagine. An Irish mark of 135 means the Caldwell Construction-owned five-year-old should be well able to qualify for the Martin Pipe, and he has developed a rock-solid profile for a race of that nature. Stablemate American Mike proved disappointing in the Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle at Navan but Imagine posted a fine effort when runner-up to Hunters Yarn in the same event. He looks to be going the right way and is now eligible for Cheltenham Festival handicaps after having a fourth run over hurdles.