Theoryofeverything options to be considered after Greenham effort

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Connections of Theoryofeverything will wait before deciding whether he will be handed the chance to run in another Classic trial following his effort in the Greenham at Newbury on Saturday.

A son of Frankel, the Prince Faisal-owned colt looked well above average when making light work of his 12 rivals in a seven-furlong Doncaster novice on his racecourse debut earlier this month.

Having powered to six-length victory over Godolphin’s Striking Star, he was handed a berth in the Greenham, and in very soft ground finished eight and a half lengths third to Isaac Shelby in the Group Three contest.

Thady Gosden, who trains in partnership with his father, John, said: “It was very specialist ground and the winner looked very smart.

“This was only the second run of his life and he was up against some more serious horses. He ran a pleasing race, all things considered.

“He’s fine. He is in the Dante, but we will see how he comes out of the race before making any decisions.”

On-fire Sire bidding for festival hat-trick at Punchestown

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Sire Du Berlais will aim to complete a famous treble when he runs in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday.

Gordon Elliott’s evergreen 11-year-old has already won at Cheltenham and Aintree this season and despite his age appears to be in the form of his life.

Elliott has a strong second-string to his bow in the nine-runner field with Teahupoo, who was third to his stablemate at Prestbury Park last month.

Willie Mullins’ team of four is headed by two-time winner and defending champion Klassical Dream, with Asterion Forlonge, Whatdeawant and Monkfish also representing the Closutton handler.

The latter returned from over 700 days off the track with a fine effort when narrowly beaten by Asterion Forlonge at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

Ashdale Bob, Meet And Greet and Summerville Boy complete the field.

The other Grade One on the card is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase where only four go to post, three trained by Mullins.

Arkle winner El Fabiolo is the champion trainer’s first string after he inflicted a first defeat on Jonbon over fences at Cheltenham.

Saint Roi, who finished third in the Arkle and second at Aintree to Banbridge, as well as Dysart Dynamo, who led the Arkle field until falling at the second last, also represent Mullins.

El Fabiolo was very impressive in the Arkle
El Fabiolo was very impressive in the Arkle (David Davies/PA)

The Mouse Morris-trained Indiana Jones completes the quartet.

There is some UK interest elsewhere on the card. Lucinda Russell sends Douglas Talking over for the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase after his near-miss at Aintree.

While in the  Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle Nicky Henderson runs Walking On Air, Anthony Honeyball is represented by Kilbeg King and Christian Williams runs Lord Snootie. Honeyball also runs Lilith in the  Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

Nicholls seeking personal best with another championship secured

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Paul Nicholls will head to Sandown on Saturday safe in the knowledge that a 14th trainers’ championship is already in the bag as he seeks to break his own prize money record.

Remarkably he is on course to break his best tally, set in 2007-08 when he housed the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck’s.

He needs less than £100,000 to topple the £3,646,511 earned in that stellar season and with major chances right throughout Saturday’s valuable card, it will be a surprise should he not manage it.

“We had the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Buck’s, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges back then when we set that total and they won plenty of big races that season,” said Nicholls.

Paul Nicholls with Kauto Star (left) and Denman
Paul Nicholls with Kauto Star (left) and Denman (David Davies/PA)

“We’ve got Bravemansgame, who was second in a Gold Cup and who has won a King George VI Chase and Charlie Hall, but collectively across the board there wouldn’t be the number of stars like back then.

“We are almost certain to break it as it is less than £100,000 that we need. We have two or three in almost every race at Sandown and plenty of runners during the week so I would be disappointed if we don’t do it and do it by a good bit.

“We have got a 28 per cent strike rate as well and we are chuffed with that and it reflects well on the whole team. It is nice going into the meeting with no pressure as I’ve already won a 14th trainers’ championship.”

Greaneteen will head the charge, bidding to win the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase for a third time. He could, though, face an unlikely rival in Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon.

“This is his race. He ran very well in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He would have been second had he not made a bad mistake at the top of the hill. He then stayed on and ran a really fine race,” said Nicholls.

“He loves Sandown and he is in good shape and is fresh and well. Hopefully he will go very well.

“Jonbon is in there but he would have to take his form to the next level. We are top on ratings and it is a bit different novice chasing compared to this sort of level but he is obviously a good horse.”

Frodon is due to carry a big weight in the bet365 Gold Cup but Nicholls has aimed him at the race for some time.

“I’ve had this race in mind for a while for Frodon. Good ground will suit him well. It would be handy if Hewick runs as he would keep the weights down,” said Nicholls.

“The track and trip will suit him a treat. He ran very well at Kempton the last day and he stayed on very well with 12st on his back. I think this is a nice race for him.

“It is a new trip but he has run well over an extended three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham and at Sandown on that good ground it will suit him well.”

Enrilo, Switch Hitter and Broken Halo are all set to join Frodon while Solo and McFabulous are in the bet365 Oaksey Chase, with the latter also holding an option over hurdles.

Knappers Hill is another with leading claims in the bet365 Select Hurdle.

Moss Tucker surprises Tenebrism at Naas

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Moss Tucker reversed recent form with Tenebrism to foil the odds-on favourite in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes at Naas.

A Group One winner at two and three, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Tenebrism looks set to be a big player in the all the top sprint contests this year and started off in winning form at Cork earlier this month.

Ken Condon’s Moss Tucker was back in fifth on that occasion, but proved really tough in front this time having looked like being swallowed up when Ryan Moore produced the 2-5 market leader for her effort.

A length and a half was the winning margin for the Billy Lee-ridden 9-2 chance.

Condon said: “On the face of it the last day was slightly disappointing, but Billy came back in and said put a line through that. He slightly missed the break and they went steady enough for two furlongs.

“That’s more his thing, a stiffer track. Ground seems to come the same to him but he’s a tough, honest relentless galloper. I’m very fond of horses like him.

“Donal and Geraldine (Spring) bred him and he’s given them so much enjoyment.”

He added: “He could look at races like the Greenlands and we could travel with him. We might go to Ascot and races like the Flying Five. He ran in the Abbaye last year and we might go there again.”

O’Brien had been looking at a King’s Stand-Platinum Jubilee double bid with Tenebrism, but may now concentrate on the latter.

“It was very tacky ground and the plan was to go to the Curragh (for the Greenlands) and then do the two races in Ascot,” he said.

“We might go to the Curragh and then just do the Diamond (Platinum) Jubilee. That’s the way we are thinking now.”

Boogie Woogie is set for an Oaks trial
Boogie Woogie is set for an Oaks trial (PA)

O’Brien and Moore did get on the scoresheet, courtesy of Boogie Woogie (1-2 favourite) in the 10-furlong Race & Stay Fillies Maiden.

O’Brien said: “She was green the first day and got beaten three times last year, but we always liked her.

“The plan was to come here and if everything went well she might go for the Oaks Trial at Lingfield. It would be a good education for her and she’d learn plenty there.”

Also notable was the victory of the Natalia Lupini-trained Blairmayne in the Best Of Luck To Our Neighbours Punchestown Ahead Of The 2023 Festival Handicap, as it brought up the 1,000th winner of Wayne Lordan’s career.

Lordan said: “I rode Winter and Hermosa to win the 1000 Guineas. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some good horses and plenty of Group Ones.

“Iridessa winning at the Breeders’ Cup was great. It’s a huge achievement to get one on a stage like that.

“I never thought that I would ride 1,000 winners. It’s a hard thing to do with the jockeys that we have here. It’s very competitive and I’m delighted.”

Hanlon set for late call on ground for Hewick at Punchestown

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Shark Hanlon has warned Hewick is not a certain runner in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on account of the ground.

The going was described as yielding to soft on Monday morning, with more rain forecast throughout the day.

Hanlon is hoping that will be the last of the rainfall. But to give himself options he has left Hewick in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, which he won 12 months ago, and also the Grade Two Oaksey Chase on the same card.

To add to his Sandown gains Hewick has subsequently won the Galway Plate, was still in front when falling at the last in the Kerry National and won the American Grand National at Far Hills.

Hewick has been a star for his connections
Hewick has been a star for his connections (Niall Carson/PA)

He was last seen falling in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham at the second-last when still well in with a chance of being placed.

“The ground has to dry up for me to run him at Punchestown, a lot depends on what the ground does in the next two days,” said Hanlon.

“He’s in two races at Sandown on Saturday, they are two suitable races and I just said we’d put him in and see what happens. I’ve no decision made yet.

“If it dries up then I’m happy to run at Punchestown, but if it doesn’t he’ll go to Sandown.

“They’ve had a little bit more rain at Punchestown today. I’d have to have good in the ground for him to go there. You need everything in your favour when you are running at that sort of level.”

Mullins backing Facile Vega to make amends

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Willie Mullins is confident Facile Vega can prove he has more than enough speed for two miles in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday.

A son of Walk In The Park out of the brilliant racemare Quevega, the six-year-old has always been held in the highest esteem by the champion trainer and has largely lived up to his reputation on the track.

He was unbeaten in four bumpers, including Grade One wins at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals, and won his first starts over hurdles at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown.

But Facile Vega blotted his copyback when last of five finishers at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, a defeat Mullins put down to poor tactics, and while he was strongly fancied to bounce back to winning ways in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last month he proved no match for Marine Nationale.

The latter defeat in particular, and the fact Quevega did most of her winning over long distances including four successive victories in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown over three miles, has led some to question whether Facile Vega is now in need of a more searching test of stamina.

Mullins, though, has no fears about running his charge over the minimum trip.

“I’m not too worried about Facile Vega over two miles,” said the Closutton handler.

“I always thought Quevega had plenty of speed to win over two miles and I think she did earlier in her career in Punchestown, but we always went down the longer road with her because we had Hurricane Fly and Annie Power around that time.

“This fellow has plenty of speed. We saw that in Cheltenham, he was so fast down between the third-last and the second-last. He’s not short of speed. It’s just using it and it was just the way the race worked out in Cheltenham.”

Gordon Elliott has high hopes for Found A Fifty
Gordon Elliott has high hopes for Found A Fifty (Mike Egerton/PA)

Facile Vega is taken on by four rivals, including two stablemates in Diverge and Il Etait Temps, both of whom were not too far behind the hot favourite when third and fifth in the Supreme.

The field is completed by Oliver McKiernan’s outsider No Looking Back and and the Gordon Elliott-trained Found A Fifty, who failed to run up to expectations at Aintree less than a fortnight ago.

Elliott said: “Things just didn’t work out for Found A Fifty at Aintree. He’s a very talented animal and we didn’t see the best of him there and he’s one to be very excited about for the coming seasons.”

Mullins is also well represented in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, fielding four of the six runners for a Grade One contest run over an extended three miles.

Appreciate It returns to the Naas winner's enclosure
Appreciate It returns to the Naas winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

Stable jockey Paul Townend has seemingly sided with Appreciate It over the Cheveley Park Stud-owned pair of Classic Getaway (Danny Mullins) and Sir Gerhard (Patrick Mullins), while Daryl Jacob partners James Du Berlais for his retaining owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Appreciate It has been beaten in Grade Ones at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Fairyhouse since the turn of the year and Mullins appears more hopeful than confident that a hike in distance will do the trick.

He said: “Appreciate It disappointed me a little bit in Fairyhouse. It might be too much coming back again (16 days later), but we’ve nothing left to lose and we’ll just let him take his chance.

Sir Gerhard is a dual Cheltenham Festival winner
Sir Gerhard is a dual Cheltenham Festival winner (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s a fair sort, I think, on his day. You’d have thought going up to two and a half miles should be enough for him. Sometimes horses lose their form and he might be one of those. Maybe he wants a trip, but he won’t be going there fresh.

“It’s going to be a tough race. He’s one of the higher-rated horses in it, but a lot will depend on what he does.”

Sir Gerhard was just over four lengths in front of Appreciate It when second in the same WilllowWarm Gold Cup on Easter Sunday, while Classic Getaway has been off the track since making a successful chasing debut at at Gowran Park in November.

Naas Grade Three winner Journey With Me is a major contender for Henry de Bromhead, while Feronily also merits respect for Emmet Mullins.

Energumene looking to double up at Punchestown

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Energumene bids to cement his status as the king of the two-mile division over fences by securing back-to-back victories in the William Hill Champion Chase on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.

The nine-year-old provided Willie Mullins with a first victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last season before putting the seal on his campaign with a facile success in County Kildare.

He suffered a blip earlier this term when only third in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham in January, but raised his game significantly with a dominant defence of his Champion Chase crown last month and is short odds to repeat the feat on Tuesday.

Mullins said: “I was particularly pleased how Energumene did it in Cheltenham. He’d been working like that at home.

“We were all a little disappointed when he disappointed in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase, but I think we learned so much that day which meant he was a very good winner of the Champion Chase.

“The white fences might have upset him in the Clarence House and we sharpened up tactics. I think he’s a fair sort to do what he did two years running and in the manner he did it in Cheltenham.

“Those (soft) conditions are very helpful to him as well. He probably won’t get those in Punchestown – but if he does get wet weather, he’s going to be very difficult to beat with a clear round.”

Gentleman De Mee on his way to winning at Leopardstown
Gentleman De Mee on his way to winning at Leopardstown (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Energumene’s rivals include a trio of stablemates in Chacun Pour Soi, Blue Lord and Gentleman De Mee.

Chacun Pour Soi won this race in 2021, but is past his best judged on recent results, while Blue Lord needs to bounce back from a below-par performance in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Gentleman De Mee, on the other hand, missed the Festival in the Cotswolds and therefore lines up fresh from winning the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in early February.

“We have Gentleman De Mee in the race and he won’t be hanging around at the start. That’s his nature and Energumene can follow away. Paul (Townend) has the confidence to do both,” Mullins added.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare Magic Daze and the Patrick Foley-trained Rebel Gold complete the field.

Rebel Gold at Naas
Rebel Gold at Naas (Gary Carson/PA)

The latter will be a big outsider, despite winning a valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse and a Grade Three at Naas this season, and Foley has no great expectations.

He said: “The original plan was to go to Fairyhouse for the Grade Two, but we just got a bit of a setback. After he won in Naas, Denis (O’Regan, jockey) said it’d be no harm to give him an entry in some of the good races as they can cut up a little bit, so maybe it’s all for luck.

“The most realistic goal is probably to finish fourth, but even if he finishes sixth of the six, you’re picking up prize money and on ratings, we are the lowest rated horse in it.

“If he’d had a proper clear run, I’d be going there hoping to beat one or two of them but we’re not going to be in any way disappointed wherever he finishes.

“If he puts in a decent run we’ll all be very, very happy.”

Tahiyra ‘in great form’ – but no decision yet on Newmarket

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Dermot Weld will give Tahiyra a workout later this week before determining whether or not she will take her place in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday week.

The Aga Khan’s beautifully-bred daughter of Siyouni is vying for favouritism with Meditate for the fillies’ Classic at Newmarket, having beaten Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group One winner in a strong renewal of the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

That two-and-a-quarter-length victory, her second in two starts, came on her last run in September, with Meditate subsequently franking the form when taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in November.

Pat Downes, who manages the Aga Khan’s Irish studs, reported Tahiyra in fine fettle ahead of a possible run on the Rowley Mile.

He said: “She is in great form and had a great winter, and we are very happy with her.

“Dermot has been keeping all his options open until he couldn’t – until he has to make a final decision. And that’s pretty much where we’re at.

“She will be doing a bit of work this week and I would imagine after this week we will be making a decision as to where she is likely to go.

“Meditate more than franked the form of the Moyglare in the Breeders’ Cup and she is very exciting. We are really looking forward to seeing her run again and see what happens from two to three.”

A half-sister to Tarnawa, who won the Prix Vermeille, Prix de l’Opera and the Breeders’ Cup Turf for Weld in 2020, Tahiyra has abundant stamina in her pedigree.

However, she showed plenty of speed in taking the seven-furlong Moyglare and may not prove herself to be an Oaks filly.

Downes added: “We couldn’t be happier with her – she’s in a very good place and we’re really pleased with her.

“We will take it one step at a time. Her sister maybe stayed better than we would have expected her to do, and as Dermot correctly said, Tahiyra shows more speed than Tanarwa did, so what her optimum trip will be in due course I really wouldn’t be able to say at this stage.”

All systems go for Love Envoi raid on Punchestown

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Harry Fry’s Love Envoi is aiming for Grade One glory in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The seven-year-old took the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and was unbeaten in her two runs prior to the meeting this year, landing both a handicap and a Listed event when running at Sandown each time.

She was an 11-1 chance in a top-notch renewal of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park and was eventually beaten a length and a half by Honeysuckle after a brave tussle with the winner over the last and to the line.

Punchestown was quickly mooted by connections as a next port of call should she fare well following the race, and the weekend is now on the horizon for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate-owned bay mare.

“It’s all systems go for Punchestown, the plan is to go over there and take on the Irish horses,” said Fehily.

Love Envoi at Sandown
Love Envoi at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

“Harry is very happy with her, it was the obvious next race for her. We always said that if she came out of Cheltenham well enough then we would go to Punchestown with her and she seems to have come out of it very well, we’re going to run.

“She keeps on improving, keeps on surprising us. She’s just a very tough, likeable filly. She deserves a Grade One and hopefully we can tick that box.”

Love Envoi has been ridden by Jonathan Burke in all but one of her starts under rules, but the jockey broke his arm in a fall from Sam Brown in the Grand National and is out of action as his injury heals.

Mark Walsh has been called up to deputise, a rider who has enjoyed Punchestown success when teaming up with Fry before as the pair took the 2019 Champion Stayers Hurdle with Unowhatimeanharry and the Mares Handicap Hurdle with Pure Bliss in 2021.

Fehily said: “We’re delighted to get Mark on board, it’s very unfortunate for Johnny to be missing about because he’s probably been the making of this mare. She wasn’t easy in her early days and he handled her very well.

“It’s great to have Mark on board, he’s an experienced jockey and he’s ridden Grade One winners for Harry Fry in Punchestown before so hopefully he can ride another one for us.”

Henderson makes Celebration Chase entry for Jonbon

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Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon is a surprise contender in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

A novice, his only defeat over fences came in the Arkle at Cheltenham behind Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo.

Since then he has won at Aintree when he appreciated the better ground, but he was expected to be put away for the season.

Henderson is no stranger to running novices in open company with Sprinter Sacre and Altior both winning the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury as novices.

“We’ve put him in so there’s a good chance he’ll turn up. He’s in there to run,” said the Seven Barrows trainer.

“We’re just monitoring him. He seems very well in himself. Everybody at home has been very happy with him and I thought he looked great yesterday and today so we popped him.

“He absolutely bounced off that good ground at Aintree, he really loves it.

“We’ve run novices in open company before so we have done it with others.”

Altior won the Celebration Chase three times himself and if Jonbon runs he will be attempting to stop Greaneteen from achieving the same feat.

Paul Nicholls’ chaser excels at Sandown, with a Tingle Creek to go with his two victories in this race.

Captain Guinness and Editeur Du Gite, second and third to Energumene in the Champion Chase, add further strength in depth to what could prove to be a fascinating Grade One contest.

First Flow, Funambule Sivola, Global Citizen and Magic Daze complete the list.

In the bet365 Gold Cup Saturday’s Scottish National winner Kitty’s Light could make a quick reappearance for Christian Williams.

Kitty’s Light won the Scottish National on Saturday
Kitty’s Light won the Scottish National on Saturday (Jane Barlow/PA)

Last year’s winner Hewick has also been left in by Shark Hanlon, although he has been declared to run in the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday.

Should Hewick not run Frodon will be at the head of the weights for Nicholls and Bryony Frost.

Nicholls could also run Switch Hitter and Enrillo. The latter was first past the post in the 2021 renewal but was disqualified and placed third.

Hewick has also been left in the bet365 Oaksey Chase in which Nicholls could run McFabulous and Solo.

McFabulous also has the option of running in the bet365 Select Hurdle along with stablemate Knappers Hill.

Goshen, Thyme Hill and Call Me Lord are among eight entries.