10 HORSES TO FOLLOW (When Flat Racing Restarts) PART ONE - IRELAND

While looking to pass the time while under the recent lock down, and with no actual racing taking place in UK or Ireland, we thought that we'd have a look at some horses to follow for when the racing begins. Shall be updating three different posts for both Flat racing and National Hunt rules, this one will focus on the Irish Trainers and I've been reading up on their stable notes, as well as Timeform and other publications. At time of writing racing is currently suspended but we've included mention of possible Group One entries as we are to understand that ever effort is being made to ensure that races such as the Guineas, Derby and Oaks are re-scheduled. Also note that we've only selected a few trainers, the likes of Aiden O'Brien is only omitted as they have 100's of high class horses and it would take an age (and possibly a blog in their own right) to go through them all.
Jim Bolger

Fiscal Rules – He was beaten a head by Wichita on his only start to date over seven furlongs at the Curragh in late August. A son of Make Believe, he hasn’t been seen since but holds entries in various big races like the Guineas. He looks a sure-fire maiden winner and a high-class prospect in the making. 
Moments Linger – She could have a good handicap mark by accident. She’s a three-year-old daughter of Dawn Approach and wasn’t beaten far on debut at Dundalk, where she was beaten by Ickworth, who also beat her in a Listed race at the Curragh on her last start. Rated 84, she’s got an entry in the Irish 1000 Guineas, so it will be interesting to see the route she goes.
Ten Year Ticket – He’s by Rock Of Gibraltar and won at a big price on debut at the Curragh, beating Tiger Moth, and he looks a smart prospect going forward. The fact he’s a gelding means he won’t be campaigned down the obvious races and he should be able to make hay on the back of that debut win.

Dermot Weld

Emiyn - A sure-fire maiden winner for the yard is Emiyn. He ran a lovely race at the only turf meeting held this year at Naas. It looked a well-contested race and he had a wide draw and travelled extremely well into the race. On a day when the yard had three of four strongly fancied runners, he was the only one to run well. He holds an Irish Guineas entry which is a nod to the esteem he’s held in at home although we will have to wait and see if the Classics can be saved in Ireland as the BHA appear to be doing over in the UK.
Shekhem - Of the younger generation a colt to keep on your side is Shekhem. He belongs to the Aga Khan and ran a huge race to finish second in the Beresford Stakes in the autumn. He ran with the choke out on the round mile track there, which is downhill all the way, and was still only caught late on by Inch Free. He’d previously won a maiden at Listowel nicely and he’s one to have on your side in the better races moving forward.

Joseph O’Brien

Big Call - I’d always be inclined to give a horse of his who wins first time out a huge upgrade as they tend to be green and learning their job. If they win on debut they tend to be start. A horse who fits that bill is Big Call who win at Limerick at the back-end of the year having missed the start. He had 10 or 12 horses in front of him own the relatively short home straight there but when he was asked for his effort he picked up really well to win by three lengths. The second horse, Hong Kong, has a rating of around 90 for the Ballydoyle team and gives the form a strong look. The ground was very testing but I loved the way he did it and he’s a very promising son of American Pharoah.
Buckhurst - Among the older horses I’m mad about Buckhurst. We haven’t seen the best of him yet, he’s been minded by Joseph, and beat Sir Dragonet at the Curragh in August. He’s won three of his six starts and finished second to Norway in a Group Three on his final start. That was run on the inside track at Leopardstown and he had to work hard all the way round on the outside of the field and you can upgrade that run. There’s definitely more to come from him.
Crossfirehurricane – He has won his three starts to date, the last two at Dundalk. He’s a son of Kitten’s Joy who is already a Listed winner and there should be more to come as he goes up in trip on good ground. But given the year it is if there’s more polytrack racing that would very much suit him too.

Johnny Murtagh

Know It All – She’s a filly by Lord Kanaloa, which is interesting breeding. He’s a Japanese sire and won in Hong Kong, while he was Japanese horse of the year – he only got better with age and he’s the sire of Almond Eye. Know It All won a winners’ race at the Curragh on her second start, but it was her run behind New York Girl in a Group Three on her final start at two that confirmed her as a high-class prospect. She travelled strongly throughout in a handy position but took it up a long way from home on testing ground. Inside the furlong pole she was a couple of lengths clear but she got tired and was run down to be beaten a neck and half a length. I think she was the best filly in the race, it was just the way it was run left her vulnerable to closers. She looks smart and there’s more to come from her.
Springbank – He’s a very well-bred Galileo. His dam was a multiple Group Three-winning mare and if you go back to his first start at the Curragh, where he was a two lengths third to Wichita, he has the look of a very well handicapped horse off a mark of 78. His next two starts were on heavy and he didn’t run badly on his last start at Leopardstown, where he was beaten nine lengths by Celtic High King. He’s bred to improve with age, he’s a full brother to Expressionism who won over 1m 4f, and given the promise he showed on his debut he’s worth following in middle-distance handicaps.

Further blogs focusing on Uk Flat horses and also National Hunt selections will appear soon, there will be no NH racing till at least July according to a statement from the British Racehorse Association.