Gigginstown House Stud Stable Tour

Form profile

Despite winning an open class Grade 1 this season, hasn’t hit the heights some may have expected. A combination of soft ground and an interrupted campaign hasn’t helped but goes to Cheltenham on the back of a sound run, with more likely to come on spring ground.

Trainer says

Hopefully we haven’t seen the best of him. We feel on better ground and with a faster pace to run at, he is a different horse. Hopefully Cheltenham dodge the rain, but he is taking on two very good mares. They will be hard beaten but we hope to see a seasons best on the ground. The ground at the Dublin Racing Festival was far too soft and before that, he scoped rotten at Christmas. The last day was a step in the right direction.

Form profile

High-class hurdler and chaser on his day, but the now 11yo is maybe losing some enthusiasm for the game. Ran well in the Champion Chase at Down Royal to be fair earlier in the season, but needs the cross-country game to spark him back to life.

Trainer says

He is schooling away with Tiger and seems to love it. The cross-country schooling actually sweetened up Tiger so it might do the same for Alpha.

Form profile

Started his season nicely and finished second to Envoi Allen in the Drinmore on just his second start. Form and jumping has dipped since and heads into handicap company on the back of two falls.

Trainer says

He is going to run in the handicap (Paddy Power Plate). There is no point taking on Envoi Allen. The mark he got is fine, but it’s more so, you don’t want to be taking on Arkle! What’s the point taking on Arkle!? He’s some horse (Envoi Allen).

Form profile

His defeat of Un De Sceaux in the 2018 Ryanair feels like a lifetime ago now as he has been slightly regressive season on season since. Ran well in the Champion Chase at Down Royal but is another looking to be sparked back to life by cross country competition.

Trainer says

Henry (de Bromhead) has been cross country schooling with Balko, too, and says he is lovin’ it. Hopefully it sweetens him up, too.

Form profile

Just got the better of Fury Road (getting 2lb) close home in the Boyne Hurdle and has been steadily progressive this season. The 3m trip is a big unknown heading to the Stayers’ Hurdle and his stable could maybe be in better form, too.

Trainer says

Noel (Meade) is very sweet on Beacon Edge and we think he is entitled to go. They (Fury Road) are both 20-1 shots and that’s the chance they are.

Form profile

Progressive young chaser who has improved for the fitting of blinkers and going out in distance. Won't run at Cheltenham.

Trainer says

He won’t run and is going to the Irish National.

Form profile

Held every chance when cruelly coming down at the last in the 2020 Martin Pipe. Hasn't come back to form this season, only running one race and won't head to Cheltenham.

Trainer says

He’s not going to go. He just hasn’t sparked this season yet, but hopefully he’ll be firing by Fairyhouse.

Form profile

Just a Beginners' Chase success to his name this season, but has been keeping good company and generally acquitting himself well. Won't run at Cheltenham.

Trainer says

This fella won’t go. He might go to Naas for another race.

Form profile

Has mixed hurdling and chasing this season and ran well to be second in the Galmoy Hurdle. That was a career best. Heads to Aintree.

Trainer says

He won’t run. We are going to save him for the three-mile race at Aintree.

Form profile

Has been mixing hurdling and chasing this season having finish an excellent second in last year's Grand Annual. Fell at Fairyhouse this season when holding every chance and his recent run at the Dublin Racing Festival wasn't devoid of promise ahead of a County Hurdle tilt.

Trainer says

He is in the Grand Annual and the County but he will run over hurdles. He is a nice horse, but he has been very unlucky. He had two bad falls, and I actually thought he was going to win both days. Hopefully his luck will change, because as I say, he is a nice horse.

Form profile

Third in last season’s County Hurdle. Taken well to chasing this campaign and is a likable horse who travels and jumps well. Has been crying out for pace to run at and decent ground and will likely get both in the Grand Annual. Looks to have strong each-way claims in that race with Joseph O’Brien’s team back in better order.

Trainer says

We are going to go to the Grand Annual. Joseph’s horses are running better now which is great and this fella ran super here last year in the County Hurdle. He’s a fine horse and is another of ours where, the better the ground, the better his chance.

Form profile

Has yet to win in three starts this season, but has been running well despite being let down by his jumping at key moments. Former Festival winner when taking out the 2018 Triumph Hurdle.

Trainer says

He’s been running well without winning this season. He just likes to hit the second last lately, which doesn’t help.

Form profile

A progressive and tough sort who looks ideally suited by right-handed tracks, but won't make Cheltenham this season.

Trainer says

He won’t go. He had a tiny set-back, but missed a few weeks and won’t be ready in time. Fairyhouse and Punchestown might suit him well, though.

Form profile

Former top-class novice hurdler who started his novice chase campaign well this season. Form has tailed off however, coinciding with a back injury. Won’t run at Cheltenham

Trainer says

Felix won’t go to Cheltenham. He started off the season well, but his jumping was desperate the last day, and he’s usually such a good jumper. We found a small issue with his back, but Cheltenham is just coming too soon.

Form profile

Not exactly straight forward type, who hints at ability. Has kept tough company this season and is hoping to sneak into the Martin Pipe where getting pace to run at would be a big help.

Trainer says

He’ll go to the Martin Pipe, if he gets in. He’s a tricky horse to ride so hopefully we get a good rider. He needs to be locked up and put asleep out the back. Mentally, he is immature but as you saw the first day, there is a good horse there. It’s all about next year for him. We aren’t going to bother winning a maiden hurdle with him.

Form profile

Ran a tremendous race to be third in a hot-looking Albert Bartlett last season, but hasn’t gone on like Monkfish, Thyme Hill et al this season. Disappointed he was beating in the Boyne Hurdle when having total run of the race, but did carry a penalty there and may be a better horse off stronger fractions.

Trainer says

He ran well in the Albert Bartlett last year and was just a bit off the pace and had to use himself to get into the race. We’ll find out here if he gets the full 3m, but his run last year was a very good run and he entitled to go. He was another to scope wrong over Christmas and the last day (Boyne Hurdle), maybe he didn’t go fast enough.

Form profile

Talented novice hurdler who has sound Irish Grade 1 form. Ran well at Christmas behind Appreciate It, coming from a poor tactical position. Slightly disappointed at the Dublin Racing Festival after, but maybe the ground was too soft.

Trainer says

We are going to go to the Supreme. It looks a tough race for him but for a horse of such little experience, he’s been running well in Grade 1s. This is a nice horse, though, and he’ll tip around on Tuesday and take his chance. He finished like a train at Christmas behind Appreciate It but the ground was too soft for him at the Dublin Racing Festival. We tried to force him a little bit, too, as we didn’t want to be too far back, and maybe he was a little disappointing, but he still ran well.

Form profile

Progressed with each run last season ahead of his Kim Muir success, but has been bogged down by Irish winter ground this campaign.

Trainer says

He runs in the Ultima. It hasn’t happened for him this year yet, because I think he’s been getting stuck in the ground. We fancy running here before going on to Aintree for the National. I hope he runs well here to progress, but Aintree is his target.

Form profile

Disappointed in last season’s Arkle when sent off 5/2 favourite, but a combination of a hard prep race and soft ground likely didn’t help. Has held his form well enough this season, although no match for Chacun Pour Soi twice. He is better than his Dublin Racing Festival run, though, and better ground may spark him back to life.

Trainer says

I’m not sure if the ground was too soft for him at the Dublin Racing Festival or he is now exposed, but we’ll find out next week. Again, the better the ground, the better his chance. We tried to put it to Chacun Pour Soi at the Dublin Racing Festival having sat behind him the time before. He’s (Chacun Pour Soi) a very good horse and you can be sure Willie will have him at his best for Cheltenham. Notebook blew out last year in the Arkle but I don’t think that was anything to do with the crowds; he just wasn’t right.

Form profile

Progressive novice chaser with plenty of experience, but won't run at Cheltenham.

Trainer says

He won’t go, but he will head to the Irish National. We wanted to run, but it’s just too short of a gap to Fairyhouse.

Form profile

A two-time Cheltenham Festival winner who when on song, is a top-class performer. Poor health and breathing issues have scuppered his progress, but has been crying out for genuine spring ground for an age and may actually get it this year.

Trainer says

Battleoverdoyen won’t run at Cheltenham so it will be just Samcro for us in the Ryanair. He started his season well at Down Royal, but was another to scope poorly over Christmas. We decided to give him plenty of time to get over it and go to the Ryanair fresh. His work is still good. He worked well yesterday (Wednesday) so as a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner, he is entitled to go. When he can breathe and is right, there is no horse alive who can beat him. He’s had a quiet year, but is fresh and the Ryanair might even bring him on again.

Form profile

A two-time Grade 1-winning novice chaser, including at the Cheltenham Festival when winning a soft ground March Novices’ Chase in 2018. Ran well behind Elimay over a trip too short last time out and will appreciate the stiffer test of stamina. May want some rain, however.

Trainer says

Don’t forget she won a Marsh not too long ago at the Festival. She’s good at Cheltenham. They are on about Elimay is the banker of the meeting, but jasus, I’ll tell you one thing, I wouldn’t swap this one. She ran well the last day over a trip too short. I just hope it’s a small field as she seems better off in those smaller fields.

Form profile

One of National Hunt racing’s superstars and great stories, but The Tiger hasn’t fired in three runs this season. Signs of life at Navan in the early part of his race, but was ultimately disappointing. That said, he is likely only trained for two races a year now (one this season) and a better version of Tiger Roll may be seen back on better ground at a track and occasion he loves.

Trainer says

Again, he’s another one, the better the ground, the better his chance. At his age now, if it doesn’t suit, he’ll just spit out the dummy. I was actually very happy at Navan, but everyone was giving out. He was beaten soon after the second last and Keith (Donoghue) wasn’t hard on him. He’s obviously not the horse he was, which is why I have a gripe with the handicapper. If he won, there is a chance he could be retired, but also, there is a chance he could run next year. Red Rum was dropped 7lb the third year he won the National as a 12yo, but Tiger loves his training and racing. During the summer here on his break, he is moping around, miserable. Whatever happens with Tiger’s career, he’ll be retired a long time, and as ever, Tiger will tell us.

Form profile

Has been progressive this season for a team of connections who seem to like him. Looks an ideal candidate for the Albert Bartlett test.

Trainer says

Torygraph is a very nice horse. He is a big, lazy, idle sort but he is always there when you want him and that is probably the horse you need here. I just hope he can lay up with them as he can fall asleep, but he is a nice horse going the right way. Of all of ours, he is maybe our best chance.

Form profile

Before a disappointing run at the Dublin Racing Festival had been slowly progressive and holding his form well, but now won't head to Cheltenham.

Trainer says

Unfortunately, he won’t go, he had a small setback. He’s out for the season, but thankfully it’s nothing too serious.