Sir Busker handed Neom Turf Cup target

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The Kennett Valley Thoroughbreds Syndicate will hope Sir Busker can put his name in lights when he runs in the Neom Turf Cup on Saudi Cup night.

A brave third behind the brilliant Baaeed in the Juddmonte International at York, the William Knight-trained seven-year-old has had a break since that run in August.

A model of consistency, he has notched six victories from 38 starts and finished runner-up on another nine occasions, earning in excess of £560,000 in prize-money.

Though he had been predominantly campaigned over a mile, he proved a real money-spinner when upped in trip last term and belied his 100-1 odds when chasing home Baaeed and Mishriff at York.

Syndicate manager Sam Hoskins said: “He’s good. After the Juddmonte he went for a break, unlike last year when he stayed on and ran on Champions day.

“As a result, he’s much further forward this year and he is going to run at Lingfield in a new Listed race – the Tandridge Stakes, over a mile on February 4.

“That suits him quite well, because there are no penalties, he doesn’t have to carry a Group Two penalty in that.

“Then the plan is to go out to Saudi Arabia and run in the Group Three Neom Turf Cup over a mile and two (furlongs) and then, if we get invited, the plan will be to then run in the Group One Dubai Turf in which he was fifth last year.”

Sir Busker ran eight times last season with his sole success coming in the Group Two York Stakes in July. That race will again be targeted once his passport has been put in the drawer.

Hoskins added: “After that Group Two win and a third in Juddmonte International, anything from now on is just a bonus.

“That said, he is only seven and hasn’t had that much racing. William Knight is really good with those older horses

“I don’t really know the UK plan, but I would think the mile and two (furlong) route will be explored, with possibly the Brigadier Gerard (Sandown) or something being a starting point.

“Part one is the foreign affairs, but after that, the plan is to definitely go back to the York Stakes, if fit and well. We will try and win that race we won last year and then go to the Juddmonte again, although obviously we will be running for place money.

“All the other horses go off to stud and he’s still there. He is the perfect syndicate horse and we are lucky to have him.

“He’s has been a good cash machine, but he does come first and and he will race until he is retired and we will give him a good retirement one day. Hopefully he’ll have a couple more years with him yet, though.”

De Bromhead charting direct Cheltenham route for Gold Cup duo

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Both Minella Indo and A Plus Tard will head straight to the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Each horse is a winner of the race in his own right, with Minella Indo landing the Grade One contest in 2021 ahead of his stablemate before they finished in the reverse order the following season.

A Plus Tard was pulled up on his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase in November, while a planned run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown was scuppered by a late mishap.

The gelding is fully recovered now, however, and will make his next start with a Gold Cup title defence in March.

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He seems good. We gave him a full check over and everything seems fine, his joint is good again. It was just a bang,” De Bromhead said.

“We are sort of starting afresh and aiming for March.

“I think we go straight there, we’ve sort of made that decision now and that’s it.

“He needs to go left-handed and the Irish Gold Cup was our only option really. We’re well able to get him spot on for the day and we’ll just aim for that.”

Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Minella Indo made a winning start to his campaign at Tramore on New Year’s Day, winning a Grade Three event by a neck from Willie Mullins’ Stattler.

He too will take a direct route to Cheltenham now.

“He seems great, I’m delighted with him. He’s in really good form and we’ll go straight to the Gold Cup with him,” said De Bromhead.

“I was delighted to see him back and everyone saw the reception he got, and we got. It was incredible. It was an emotional day, a really good day.”

A Plus Tard is as low as 5-1 with William Hill to defend his title, while Minella Indo is 16-1 with the same firm.

Real World pencilled in for Super Saturday return

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Real World, not seen since finishing a creditable second to Baaeed in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, has been gelded and is likely to reappear on Super Saturday at Meydan.

Saeed bin Suroor’s flagbearer was suffering with a cough in the second half of last summer and never made it back to the track, having also finished second to Baaeed in the Lockinge at Newbury.

After two failed attempts on dirt in last year’s Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup, that experiment has been put on the back burner and he will race exclusively on turf from now on.

“Real World we know is a very smart horse, but sometimes when he went racing he wasn’t always thinking about it completely,” said Bin Suroor.

“In the mornings at home he was fine, but only when he got to the races did he start to get excited, sweating very badly and was coltish. He still ran well, but we made the decision to geld him in the summer.

“He was coughing a lot in the summer, that was why he hasn’t run since Ascot. It took him a long time to get over it, he had a lot of mucus. We just couldn’t run him.”

He went on: “Hopefully he’s over it now. It was frustrating, we had such a good horse and couldn’t run him. But you can’t run them when they aren’t healthy.

“He’s doing well so far in Dubai, in full training, but I want to find a race for him on Super Saturday, maybe the Jebel Hatta.

“We’ll keep him on the turf this year. We gave him a chance on the dirt but he didn’t handle it well, so that’s it. We’ll keep him to turf.”

Impervious impresses with gutsy Punchestown success

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Impervious remains unbeaten over fences after a tough triumph in the Madigan Group Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The mare won on her debut over fences and then took a Grade Two contest against her own sex last time for trainer Colm Murphy, leaving her to carry a penalty amongst a field of geldings.

That burden was largely negated by her mares’ allowance, and under Brian Hayes the seven-year-old started at 3-1 for the Grade Three contest.

Locked in a run for the line with Henry de Bromhead’s Journey With Me, Impervious battled to get her head in front and eventually prevailed by half a length with the rest of the field 22 lengths or more behind.

As a result, Impervious is now the sponsor’s 6-4 favourite for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I’m delighted with that,” said Murphy.

“It was a tall order giving weight to those boys.

“It was probably a little, tiny worry running her on heavy ground too, but she’s answered a lot of questions. We can make more plans now.

“She’s one of those, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she gives everything.”

When asked if she would go straight to the Cheltenham Festival  the trainer added: “Without talking to the lads I’m guessing so. I’ll have a word with Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP (McManus, owner) and see then.

“She seems to be improving and especially with those fillies, when they start improving you don’t know where they’ll end up but I do know it’s nice to have her.”

Royal Thief returned from a 782-day absence to land the Total Event Rental Amateur National for Patrick Mullins and Henry de Bromhead.

The gelding made a winning start to his chasing career in 2020 before being brought down on his next run and he had been off the track since.

Mullins’ mount was a 14-1 chance and took no time to hit his stride after the long lay-off, jumping well and prevailing by 10 lengths.

“I’m delighted with that. Patrick was brilliant on him,” said De Bromhead.

“He said there was a fresh strip out at the wing and he went that way so fair play to him. It worked really well.

“He hadn’t run for a long time so it’s great and I’m delighted for (owners) Gigginstown. He ran well in the Pertemps a few years ago, then won his beginners’ chase and got hurt.

“We’re in no panic with him now, we’ll enjoy today and have no major plans.”

Davy Russell partners first winner since riding return

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Sa Fureur provided Davy Russell with his first winner since returning from a short-lived retirement to deputise for the injured Jack Kennedy.

Russell initially hung up his boots in mid December, leaving Kennedy to take up the role as Gordon Elliott’s stable jockey.

However, after Kennedy broke his leg in a fall last Sunday, Russell announced on Wednesday he would temporarily resume riding for Elliott and at Punchestown the rider enjoyed his first victory since doing so.

Partnering Sa Fureur for Elliott in the second division of the Seamus & Annie Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle, Russell was a four-and-a-quarter-length victor at 3-1.

“That’s grand, I panicked a little bit and took it up early enough, but to be fair to the horse he stayed at it well,” said Russell.

“Winning is what it’s all about and it’s great to be back in the winners’ enclosure.

“We’re a close team, Gordon knows I’ll be giving him 100 percent and vice versa. I’m having a good blow now!

“We’re very lucky as a sport with the people that follow us, they have a love and interest in the sport. It’s great and having a bit of life around the place is super.”

Tizzard hoping Breakaway can make National mark

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Joe Tizzard feels The Big Breakaway has all the attributes to make his mark in the Randox Grand National on April 15.

A talented operator over both hurdles and fences in his formative years, the eight-year-old has shown a real thirst for marathon tests this term, going close in a pair of stamina-sapping affairs.

Denied by a head on reappearance at Haydock, he then produced a fine weight-carrying display to follow The Two Amigos home for a silver medal in the Welsh Grand National – the 26lb he was conceding to the winner ultimately taking its toll in the closing stages.

However, those displays advertised the son of Getaway’s suitability for Aintree’s spring showpiece and the Venn Farm handler is eyeing a run in Haydock’s Grand National Trial on February 18 to tee up a shot at the big race, for which he is a best-priced 33-1.

“He’s come out of the Welsh National really well,” said Tizzard. “He’ll get an entry for the Grand National and we might take him up to Haydock for the National Trial and then straight to Liverpool.

“I think the handicapper knows where he is with him, but that’s the plan anyway.

“He just gallops and stays and we’ve always held him in high regard. I’m sure there is a big one in him. You need a bit of luck in a National still, but he should be able to travel away and jump and then he should hopefully be thereabouts.”

Reflecting on The Big Breakaway’s Chepstow efforts, Tizzard was full of praise for his charge and added: “He ran an absolute blinder, he ran really, really well.

“He had a lot of weight, but he just kept galloping and he jumped great.

“He just bumped into a good horse at the bottom of the weights, but he ran well and he’s had a great season so far – just without getting his head in front.”

Edwards keeping the faith with ‘magnificent’ L’Homme Presse

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Connections have hailed L’Homme Presse’s effort in the King George VI Chase as “magnificent” after subsequent tests found he was carrying an injury.

Having jumped markedly left throughout the Kempton feature on Boxing Day, the Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last fence when a close-up second to Bravemansgame.

He returned stiff and sore and having been given a little time to recuperate, the Diamond Boy gelding underwent a thorough veterinary examination last week, the results of which saw connections draw stumps on the idea of running in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“There are a couple of issues, both temporary,” said Andy Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Edwards and Peter and Pat Pink.

“He had a few days off in his paddock and has been trotting up fine.

“He has been walking and trotting under saddle, but we decided to give him a full MOT, because he did jump so far to the left at Kempton.

“He moves soundly and you would not think there was anything untoward, but when we got the results, they were not what we were expecting.

“He needs some time and, talking to the vets, it would not be an ideal preparation to rush him into a Gold Cup. Our horse’s health and happiness comes above everything. He is only eight, he can go to the Gold Cup next year.

“The most important thing is doing right by our horse.”

Andy Edwards/Hereford
Andy Edwards remains upbeat despite L’Homme Presse missing Cheltenham (Simon Milham/PA)

A dual Grade One winner as a novice, L’Homme Presse took the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown and the Brown Advisory at last year’s Festival.

He then recorded a comfortable victory in his comeback run under Deutsch in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

Things did not go according to plan at Kempton, with conditions not ideal and the track’s configuration playing to his main rivals’ strengths, as connections had stated beforehand.

Edwards added: “I watched him going to the start and I thought he didn’t quite look right behind – he didn’t go down as smoothly as he normally does.

“When he jumped the third fence, I said ‘he’s not right’. When he jumped the fourth, I said ‘he’s definitely not right’.

“So it was very hard to watch the race in the stands, as I could feel he was in pain. So, for him to do what he did, to be a close second jumping the last, is absolutely phenomenal considering he was carrying an issue that we were unaware of.

A bitter blow for Venetia Williams and the team at the Kings Caple yard
A bitter blow for Venetia Williams and the team at the Kings Caple yard (Mike Egerton/PA)

“My immediate emotion after the race was one of humility. I was completely humbled by the fact that he had given so much.

“Afterwards, I went into the box with him and stayed with him for some while, and could not help but think how amazing he was and what a magnificent horse he was, to be able to achieve what he did, given the adverse situation.

“The fact that he was carrying an issue, for him to run as well as he did, makes him an incredible racehorse.”

Edwards concedes that for Williams and the rest of the team at the King’s Caple yard, it is a huge disappointment.

“Emotions are running high,” he said. “It is hard for all of us. It is hard for Beth (Baldwin) the groom, Kevin (O’Keeffe), who rides him out every day, Jess (O’Keeffe) the head lass – it is a big blow for all the yard, for us as owners and for Venetia.

“At the same time, by making this decision to give him the time he needs, it will hopefully lead to even greater things in the future.

“He was magnificent in the King George and he will be magnificent again.

“Cheltenham isn’t the be-all and end-all. There are other races and we will see how he is in a few weeks’ time, however Aintree is not a consideration.

L'Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King Georg
L’Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King George (John Walton/PA)

“The issues he has are not life-threatening nor career-ending. He is a young horse and there is so much to look forward to.

“There is another Gold Cup next year, there are other great races to come.

“Sometimes the consequence of something you may believe is bad, may well be good. We are are doing the right thing by him.

“I truly believe he will become an even better horse for this. We are not in any rush. He will be given the time, patience and care he needs. He’ll tell us when he’s right and ready – keep the faith.”

Wadham sets out Doncaster date for Martello Sky

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Popular grey Martello Sky will head to Doncaster after trainer Lucy Wadham opted not to run her stable star in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The seven-year-old has been ultra-consistent for the Newmarket yard, winning six of her 12 starts over hurdles and finishing runner-up in three others.

Those placed efforts have all been in her three runs this term and her latest effort saw her 13 lengths behind the impressive Love Envoi in a Listed race at Sandown last week.

Though beaten less than 10 lengths by Marie’s Rock when seventh in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival last season, Wadham has ruled out running Martello Sky in the March 14 renewal.

Connections of the Martaline mare will instead target the Sky Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday week.

“We felt that the Mares’ Hurdle looked like being far too hot for us,” admitted Wadham. “We didn’t want to waste a bullet. We wanted to win rather than dib.

“We are going to look at the Doncaster race at the end of the month, a Grade Two.”

Martello Sky also won two of her four bumper starts and was was runner-up in another, though her string of seconds this term has seen her drop each time in the handicap, which opens up options.

“It is frustrating,” added Wadham. “She is a lovely horse to have in the yard and she loves her racing. She keeps being second and is rated 139 now. She started the season on 142 and has dropped 1lb after every run, so it is quite nice when you are getting black type at the same time.

“Her day will come, if she keeps running like she is. We are not quite at Grade One level, but we might be Grade Two level.

“So, we will look at Doncaster and we might just drop her into a handicap at some point.

“We could look at a Cheltenham handicap, but probably won’t. We’ll look at Doncaster and then go from there, and she is pretty versatile on ground, so that is very helpful.”

Impaire Et Passe jets home in Moscow Flyer

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Impaire Et Passe’s reputation continues to grow after an unchallenged success in the SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The five-year-old had a French bumper win under his belt before joining Willie Mullins’ stable for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after which he won a Naas maiden hurdle by 18 lengths in December.

That performance left him the 1-3 favourite in a small-field renewal of the two-mile Moscow Flyer, a price that was substantiated when the gelding strolled home six and a half lengths ahead under Paul Townend.

As a result Impaire Et Passe has been trimmed in the market for both the Supreme and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, becoming a 6-1 chance for both races with Betfair and Paddy Power.

“He was very good, he showed a good turn of foot. As we said after Naas, he doesn’t show us that at home,” Townend said of the Grade Two victory.

“I was very happy with him there, he jumped like a buck and the only hurdle he was slow at was the last when he was in front, but he picked up nicely at the back of it again.

“The worry was coming back in trip but he showed pace today.

“I don’t know (how good he is) because we can’t get him to do it at home to be honest, but he keeps doing it on the track.

“I think he’s very smart and he gave me a great feel today.”

Townend also added that the Dublin Racing Festival may come a bit too quickly for the horse, saying: “I don’t know if Willie normally comes here and goes to the Dublin Racing Festival.

“I’d say this is the one instead of it, but wherever he goes I wouldn’t mind being on his back.”

Mr Incredible advertises National credentials in defeat

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Mr Incredible may have failed in his late quest to run down Iwilldoit in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick, but his pilot Brian Hayes believes it sets the seven-year-old up perfectly for a tilt at the Randox Grand National on April 15.

Willie Mullins’ raider was just under three lengths adrift of the winner at the line, but having been ridden with patience in the early salvos, was rattling home at a fair pace under the Irishman, keeping on and reducing the deficit with every stride.

Mr Incredible is owned by Paul Byrne, who was the owner of last year’s Grand National winner Noble Yeats before selling the Emmet Mullins-trained eight-year-old to Robert Waley-Cohen prior to Aintree.

And he could have another contender for the world’s most famous steeplechase on his hands with the son of Westerner available at 33-1 with both Paddy Power and Betfair for the Merseyside marathon.

“It was a cracking run,” said Hayes. “He really warmed up into it. He was a bit slow away and I took the time with him then as was the plan and I was pulling a roller coming down the hill.

“He finished really well. He just missed the second-last and got under the last a little bit, which slowed him down a little bit but the way he finished you would like to think he would be a good horse who will run well in the Grand National anyway.

“I would say the Grand National will be the number one target after that run.”

And the rider, who is a key cog in Mullins’ Closutton team, believes he would have passed the Sam Thomas-trained scorer if the race was run over an extra 50 yards.

When asked if he thought he would catch Iwilldoit, he responded: “I thought so, I was hoping the line wasn’t going to come any earlier and unfortunately it did, another 50 yards and he gets up.”

Aintree could also be on the equation for Dan Skelton’s Ashtown Lad, despite only finishing second in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

A winner over the National fences in the Becher chase earlier this term, he cruised into contention in eyecatching fashion under the trainer’s brother Harry Skelton, but could not grind down Charlie Longsdon’s game Glimpse Of Gala when it mattered most.

“That was a really good run and we’re really happy to him,” said Skelton. “Fair play to the winner as she’s a really gritty horse and she picked up well, but ours isn’t a hurdler.

Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase (Premier Handicap) at Aintree
Ashtown Lad ridden by jockey Harry Skelton on their way to winning the Boylesports Becher Chase (Premier Handicap) at Aintree (Nigel French/PA)

“I wanted to run him because he’s in good form at home and I didn’t want to then press hard in early February, so that will just keep him ticking over and I’m really happy with him.

“He didn’t quite stay from the back of the last, three miles in soft ground over hurdles is a long trip for any horse. You’re going to want to ask me Grand National questions and that’s my only concern with him – I still have a very unanswered question about that trip.

“He’ll go to Ascot next for the Swinley Chase and I think he’ll be a fair player. I think 145 has got you into the National every year so we’ll see.”

Meanwhile Longsdon was delighted that 5-1 favourite Guetapan Collonges proved he was capable of holding his own when fourth in the day’s feature.

The Chipping Norton-based handler described the race as a “sink or swim” moment for the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old and he thrilled his trainer in the manner he stayed on.

“I’m delighted with him, over the moon with him,” said Longsdon.

“He’s only run in five- and six-runner races all last season. He fell in a two-runner race at Sedgefield, he ran in a six-runner race here. Everyone cribbed his jumping, but he jumped beautifully and Richie McLernon said he got into some rhythm.

“He’s still really weak and Richie said he’s just too weak this year. But another summer on his back and he’ll be a proper horse for all these slow-ground staying chases next year.

“This was a sink or swim today and he definitely stood up to be counted.”