Youth set to get its chance after a year of rebuilding at Commonstown
Justin O'Hanlon gets the lowdown from the leading trainer
It has been quite the couple of years for Jessica Harrington's booming dual-purpose operation, and 2018 has probably surpassed all expectations already with a Flat season dominated by the exploits of Alpha Centauri and the mighty filly's four Group 1 successes.
Over jumps it might bej a little bit more difficult to know what to expect, following a 2017-18 season that was a little more underwhelming than might have been expected a year ago, after the season-ending injury to Gold Cup winner Sizing John and the untimely death of budding star chaser Our Duke. Sizing John has had a wind procedure and will be working towards regaining his Gold Cup crown in March – and is looking magnificent.
Where the disappointment lay last season was obvious, but there was a horse to take up the slack in Supasundae, who was a dual Grade 1 winner at the unlikely trip of 2m with victory in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.
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Published on inStable Tours
Last updated
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- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'
- 'We hope he's a Triumph Hurdle horse, so until he tells us otherwise we'll be aiming him that way'
- 'He could make it right to the very top over fences’ - Willie Mullins’ exclusive horse-by-horse guide to his extraordinary team
- 'He's bigger, stronger, definitely getting better - and he'll be a classy horse going back into handicaps'
- 'Our novice chasers are as good as anyone's in Britain - and this one is a proper horse'
- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'