Performance Review
November 2024
We very rarely tend to have National Hunt runners so it was fantastic to send out two winners over jumps this month.
Our first of them, Coul Dreamer, could hardly have done it any easier at Punchestown when winning by nine lengths eased down on his debut over hurdles - I thought it was a smashing performance.
He’s a locally-owned horse, owned by Ray Jennings and Phil McAuley, and one we’ve always thought plenty of. I’ve been taking my time with him on the flat and allowing him to strengthen. We’ll let him take his chance in the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival and will monitor how he progresses. He’s a nice horse for the future.
Coul Dreamer wins by nine lengths at Punchestown
Having won her maiden on the flat at Tipperary in May, Party Dress capped off a good year when finishing with a rattle to win a maiden hurdle against the boys at Thurles under Ricky Doyle. We’ve thought for a long time that she could win races over hurdles so I’m delighted that she was able to get her first here. She doesn’t need the ground too soft and is a lovely, big, honest mare for Amanda and her good friend Susan Archdeacon.
Another win for Party Dress
Liltia has been knocking on the door in maidens and finished second at Dundalk when stepping her up to a mile and a half for the first time. She ran well, but I think a mile and a quarter will suit her better. To be fair to the filly, she is trying her heart out. We’ll give her another try at Dundalk before Christmas.
Lunigiana has been an extremely consistent filly throughout the year, placed on all seven of her starts bar one (when beaten only half a length in fourth), so she deserves a change of luck. It was her first run on the all-weather when finishing second in a six-furlong maiden at Dundalk this month. She's already picked up blacktype this season too, which was important given she's a well-bred filly out of Dolce Strega for Renzo Forni.
On the turf, All Lies Ahead ran with plenty of credit when second in a 26-runner handicap at the Curragh on the final day of the season. When the ground is soft, she comes into her own. It was good to see her put two solid runs back-to-back to sign off the season for Dave and Sarah Hyland.
Morning Approach wasn’t beaten far when third and fourth in a pair of mile handicaps at Dundalk during the month and is as honest as they come. When they go a real hard gallop, that’s when she tends to be seen at her best.
Since our last update, the curtain has come down on the 2024 turf season. We wrapped up the campaign with 20 winners - four more than last year from 10 fewer runners than in 2023.
We all know how competitive racing is in Ireland and having a Group 2 winner on Irish Guineas Weekend with Ocean Jewel was one of the highlights of our season. Sending out Jancis to win the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown was fantastic too. Winners at all levels are important, but blacktype winners like that really keep the flag flying for the yard.
Hopefully we can continue to find some more nice types to represent us well as we begin to look forward to 2025.