Anibale Fly could make his seasonal debut early next month as connections map out another exciting campaign for the Tony Martin-trained gelding, who was third in this year’s Gold Cup and fourth in the Grand National.
Jessica Harrington reports Sizing John to be on course to return to action before Christmas. The 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has not been seen since disappointing in the Leopardstown Christmas Chase last December and was being prepared to defend his Cheltenham crown when he sustained a pelvic injury.
Dual Grade One winner We Have A Dream is in the frame to make a return to action at Cheltenham’s opening two-day meeting in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle on October 27. Winner of the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, the four-year-old was among the favourites for the Triumph Hurdle in March but missed the race with a minor problem.
Stuart Edmunds has high hopes for the season ahead with Maria’s Benefit following her successful debut over fences at Newton Abbot. The Grade Two-winning hurdler was sent off at odds on for her chasing bow, and produced an assured round of jumping to win a three-runner affair by nine lengths.
Darren Bunyan feels Hit The Bid has sound prospects of putting the record straight from last year in the Al Basti Equiworld Mercury Stakes at Dundalk on Friday. Hit The Bid was just beaten by Take Cover in the five-furlong dash, when things did not go quite right, and Bunyan is convinced his sprinter is a better horse 12 months on.
Dan Skelton could pitch Rene’s Girl into the Monet’s Garden Old Roan chase at Aintree this month as she sets out on her first full season over fences. The eight-year-old won three of her five chase starts last term but posted her best effort in defeat when beaten just two lengths by Finian’s Oscar in the Grade One Manifesto Chase at the Liverpool track in April.
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