ANDY Oliver is hosting an open day at his Co Tyrone stables on Saturday, September 16th. The trainer is keen to show the public his upgraded facilities as he embarks on a drive to recruit more owners and racehorses.

He explains: “Two years ago I identified that Irish racing was becoming very polarised. With that in mind I decided to take steps to do things better, improve my facilities and find better horses. Now we want to increase our pool of owners and show that we can do the job to the highest standards.”

The current dip in the value of sterling could also entice southern-based owners to send him a horse. “And there’s the fact that VAT paid on the purchase or training of racehorses is fully reclaimable,” he added. “That applies to owners anywhere in the world who have a horse in training in Northern Ireland.”

Over the past two years Andy has refurbished his existing gallops and built some new ones. He now has a five-furlong woodchip hill gallop, a seven-furlong woodchip gallop with a slight incline leading to a pull-up circle, and a three and a half-furlong sand gallop.

There were also improvements carried out in the yard and turn-out paddocks. “Having a veterinary background, I’m always conscious of horse health. We have good-sized stables with lots of ventilation and a big emphasis on hygiene.

With 220 acres at his disposal Andy has in the past made his own haylage but he has taken a different path now. “I realised I was at the mercy of the weather – some years you had a great crop and in others it was less satisfactory. Now I have settled on a regime of importing standardized hay for the horses in training. My own fodder is only used for those on the easy list.”

DUAL-PURPOSE

Andy could accommodate up to 80 horses and, if needed, he has the use of an isolation facility just two miles away. “We have the ability and the facilities to train any type of horse now,” he says. “Over the years I seemed to evolve into a flat trainer but I am going to train jumpers as well now. We did it successfully before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think you have to be a dual-purpose trainer nowadays. We have the hurdles, fences and schooling track.”

In Andy’s opinion low-grade horses will always struggle to find winnable races in Ireland. He has an open mind on sending horses to race in Britain. “It’s something we have done in the past but even if they win or place over there they often don’t cover their expenses.”

Dundalk Stadium has been a godsend, he says. “It’s just an hour from my yard and they race at a good level all year around.” It’s been a lucky place for Andy over the years. One of his all-weather winners, Tom Melbourne, is now a graded stakes performer in Australia.

Andy has an enviable reputation for producing top-class horses. The best so far has been Lucky Nine, a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter in Hong Kong and Singapore. He also trained subsequent Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets and Grade 1 hurdlers Long Dog and Mega Fortune.

“I get great satisfaction at producing young horses who do well but of course I would prefer if they could have stayed with me. Our hope is to retain more of the good horses in future.”

In July Andy saddled two Down Royal winners in one weekend and followed up with a double at Gowran Park shortly afterwards. He expects to be back in the winner’s enclosure soon.

BIG EGO

3yo b g (-7913)

Helmet - Saaboog

A huge horse and a really nice mover. He won a 12-furlong handicap at Gowran Park in July but he wants a longer trip and easy ground. I put cheekpieces on him at Gowran Park to make him concentrate and he did it gamely from the front, rallying when challenged. We maybe asked too much of him next time out at Cork where he was a game third. He has an engagement at Navan this weekend. This is definitely a horse who will embrace hurdling when the time comes.

BRINGTHEHOUSEDOWN

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Royal Applause - Raskutani

A well-bred horse, he finished in mid-division behind Cliffs Of Moher on his racecourse debut last October. He made his seasonal debut three weeks ago and ran very well in a big field at the Curragh before getting tired. He’s engaged in a one-mile maiden at Navan this weekend and I’d like some nice ground for him. We’ve always expected him to win a maiden.

COLLISION COURSE

4yo gr g (-75103)

Fast Company – Anam Chara

Out of a very tough mare I trained who improved with age, he won 10-furlong handicap at Gowran Park in July. At Galway he was slowly away and ran into a wall of horses. The sharp track there didn’t necessarily suit him. He likes to get daylight. He was third last Monday at Roscommon, where he was hampered about a furlong from home. He was well clear of the rest. He likes easy ground but it was probably on the testing side for him at Roscommon. Usually he needs three weeks between his races, so he should get another few races before the turf season ends. He’ll be out next spring too.

GO GUARANTOR

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Medicean - Furbelow

A big, lazy horse. First time out this season, at Killarney last week, he did nothing. But we backed him up quickly and he ran much better at Roscommon on Monday when fourth in testing ground. He got very tired. I hope he will progress and have a dual-purpose career.

MAKAMAMIA

3yo b f (2-3)

Makfi - Bahamamia

A very nice, tall filly who was placed in both her starts to-date. She made her debut at Dundalk last December and was a fine third behind Auckland at Leopardstown in May. She had a slight setback after that run and is just coming back from that. We’d like to try and win a maiden with her this year but she may not make the turf season. She should improve with age.

OYSTER QUEEN

2yo gr f (8)

Big Bad Bob – Anam Chara

A half-sister to Collision Course. She finished down the field on her debut but ran well in what was a good Curragh contest. She was very green and took a big blow. She does want better ground too. We’ll continue to enter her up but she could be one for the all-weather. She looks up to winning a maiden.

PANAMA HAT

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Medicean – Street Style

A great servant, we retired him from racing this week. He was a lesson in perseverance and training. His two-year-old career was blighted by a wind issue and other small problems. At three he had his wind done but he was difficult to train and settle, so we had him gelded. But then he settled too well and his first three-year-old race was shocking!

A change in tactics was called for – we fitted him with cheekpieces, sent him out in front and he won five handicaps in a row. He almost made it six when narrowly beaten in a valuable race on Irish Champions Weekend.

He was quirky as four-year-old but came good in a Roscommon listed race before going to Arlington for the American St Leger, in which he finished second. He again finished second in a Group 3 at Leopardstown behind Fascinating Rock and then won a similar race at Dundalk.

Unfortunately he met with a setback on his winter break that year and injured a tendon. He missed all of 2016 and when we brought him back this year we discovered he was also suffering from kissing spines. We treated that as best we could and changed his training regime.

It all seemed to work and he had a great comeback run at Naas in July when he was second to Psychedelic Funk over a mile. Sadly his tendon flared up again the next day and we’ve decided to call it a day. He’s such a nice-looking horse and nice character that I think he would be ideal for those Racehorse to Riding Horse classes.

SCOTCH BEG

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Presenting – Top Ar Aghaidh

A real trier, she is a yard favourite. I was delighted when she won a ladies’ bumper at Downpatrick in June under a very nice ride from Helen Mooney. She has had a slightly interrupted regime since then but has run well over hurdles. We hope she’s good enough to win a maiden hurdle but, if not, there’s always handicaps. She was due to run at Down Royal on Friday night.

UNRACED THREE-YEAR-OLDS

The Thruster (by Fastnet Rock) should be out for the all-weather winter season. He has always gone well in his lower paces and we’re looking forward to getting him on the track. Hopefully he can win his maiden.

Phantom Punch (by Canford Cliffs) is a very nice horse but he’s backward and only came into training this year. He is currently on the build-up and hopefully will run by end of the year. What we have seen so far is quite impressive.

Financial Conduct (by Harbour Watch) is a very big horse who was almost ready to run and then suffered from splints. He might be back for the end of the year or we could steer him towards a bumper early next year.

UNRACED TWO-YEAR-OLDS

Cacique Royale (by Cacique) is a very nice colt, quite big, who is being brought along with a view to running at the end of the year.

Born To Frolic (by Born To Sea) is a very nice colt out of a good mare. He has been held up with minor setbacks but he’s now back in work. He shows plenty and would be one for the all-weather if he didn’t make the grass.

Factfile

Trainer: Andy Oliver

Address: Stragrane House, Dyan, Caledon, Co Tyrone, BT68 4YA

Telephone: 048 37568266

Mobile: 0044 7734 350736

Head lad: Roger Bradley