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A bit from Donn
"That fellow was brilliant last year," Martin says, nodding at Benefficient as he leads Ted Veale in a circle around the yard. Last year's twin heroes. "And he's in great form now. He did a piece of work on The Curragh the other day, and I was very happy with him. He won the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over two miles, but he won the Jewson last year over two and a half, so the Ryanair is the plan with him this year, although I have left him in the Champion Chase just in case."
Ted Veale was on track for the Grand Annual, but he has been harshly handicapped in Martin's eyes.
"The Grand Annual was the plan, but he has been given a rating of 146. He won the County Hurdle last year of 134, and he only just got home. He's 12lb higher now over fences, and he has been beaten in all three chases in which he has run this season. It doesn't make sense."
The Barry Connell duo, Golantilla and Sraid Padraig, are next out.
"The plan was to go novice hurdling with Golantilla," says Martin, "but he was just a bit late getting going, so we decided to keep him to bumpers again this year, protect his novice status over hurdles for next season. He was third in the Champion Bumper last year, and that is the target for him again. We know that he handles the track and he is in good form now."
You hadn't fully appreciated Sraid Padraig's exaggerated dimensions before. He's 17hh if he's a foot, says the trainer.
"He hasn't run since November, we have had a few little problems with him, but he's very well now. He's in three of the handicaps, he's in the Kim Muir and the Festival Handicap, but he could run in the Byrne Group Plate."
Martin was hoping that Oscars Well would qualify for the Pertemps Final on his first run for him at Punchestown three weeks ago, but he could only finish ninth in the qualifier, and only the first eight qualified to run in the Final. So it could be Plan B, the Coral Cup.
"He's obviously a talented horse, and we have been happy with how he has been progressing. We'll see how he goes."
Quickpick Vic could still make it to the Neptune Novices' Hurdle.
"It was trainer error the last time," admits Martin. "I probably ran him back too quickly in the Deloitte just two weeks after he had won his maiden in a good time. He's a talented horse."
Savello maybe in the Grand Annual, Living Next Door in one of the four races in which he holds an entry, Wrong Turn in one of the five. Several plans still to be nailed down, but you know that they will be. -
another one
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