Ruby’s ones to watch
IF you want to watch an owner, stand and watch John Earls and his team that own Chicago Grey, who is in training with Gordon Elliott. If he gets involved in the Four Mile, watching their shenanigans from the back of the last to the finishing post will be entertainment in itself. They get very excited. I saw the horse winning there in November and you’d swear it was the Festival. If he does win at the Festival, follow them into the bar then ‘cos they’ll buy drink for everyone.
ALAN FLEMING, is best associated with Starluck, who is side-stepping the Arkle in favour of a trip to Aintree, but he is a handler on a steep upward curve. He and Neil Mulholland, who trains Gold Cup hopeful Midnight Chase, are young trainers set to make a real impact on the Cheltenham Festivals of the future.
They’re two Irish lads based in England, with small strings and big runners if they run. Neil Mulholland picked up injuries as a jockey but he’s had better luck as a trainer and Midnight Chase will give him a great run in the Gold Cup. The horse loves it around Cheltenham having won his last three there so Neil will be mixing it at the very top.
IT’S stating the obvious but both for Cheltenham and the future, you’d have to say Paul Townend (right). He has the lot. He’ll more than likely be champion jockey this year if he doesn’t get injured. He’s my opposition, but I can’t dislike him because he’s such a nice fella. He’s very cool, confident but in no way cocky or arrogant. He has it all and takes it in his stride. It doesn’t get to him. He’s the one every other young fella should be looking at.
ALLURE OF ILLUSION is one of Willie’s in the bumper. He’s a horse with a lot of speed. I don’t know has he too much speed to mean he won’t stay in Cheltenham, but he likes good ground and should put up a bold show. If Cheltenham proves not to suit him, he will be ready to go at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. I’d imagine he’ll go jumping straight away so there could be good profit in following him over the next couple of months.
