Dot Love team believe Dawn Shadow can shine a light on their season

Since shooting to prominence in 2013 when teaming up to win the Irish Grand National with Liberty Counsel, Westmeath-based trainer Dot Love and her assistant Ciaran Murphy have been searching for the next star, and hopes are high Dawn Shadow will be capable of providing more big-race success for the stable this season.

Dawn Shadow was an impressive winner of a mares' hurdle at Thurles last month and is on course to return to the track in a mares' novice event on Sunday.

The Mullingar-based team have done very well with the family of Dawn Shadow, all of whom are owned by Sean Riley and who “helps to keep the yard in lights”, according to Murphy.

He said: "The plan is to run Dawn Shadow at Thurles on Sunday and she's really starting to come into herself. We said from the start we weren't going to be rushing off to the paddocks with her, and we knew she would develop with racing.

“In fairness to Sean, he started out with one mare [Rubys Shadow] and he has gone to the right sires and has reaped the rewards.

"We know how hard it is to get a nice horse and this family continues to produce the goods.

“Shadow Eile, who was a full-sister to Dawn Shadow's dam, did very well for us and we are actually breaking her first yearling right now, a son of Flemensfirth.”

He added: “These horses help keep the yard in lights and we think we have a good one on our hands with Dawn Shadow. The long-term plan for her is the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.”

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