Names to note: four to watch out for this 2020 Irish Flat season

With the Irish Flat season getting under way at Naas on Monday, Mark Boylan highlights a trainer, jockey, apprentice and horse to watch out for during the season

Trainer: Paddy Twomey

The shrewd Tipperary-based trainer enjoyed a season to remember last year, almost doubling his previous campaign's tally in Ireland and unearthing some smart youngsters who competed at a high level.

His Royal Ascot juvenile hotpot Sunday Sovereign may have proved disappointing but he advertised his talents through the fine handling of talented fillies Silk Forest, Loveisthehigherlaw and Raven's Cry.

Twomey's Foxtrot Liv emerged with credit after her Irish 1,000 Guineas third to Hermosa, while Decrypt filled the same position in the colts equivalent on the same weekend.

His strike-rates with two- and three-year-olds are hugely impressive. He can boast a 4-17 record with his juveniles in 2019 (24 per cent) and he was 7-19 with three-year-olds during the same period (37 per cent).

Twomey's placement of his horses is impeccable and his well-fancied runners always demand respect.

Wayne Lordan: enjoyed multiple Group 1 successes around the world last seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jockey: Wayne Lordan

As strong as they come, tactically astute, capable of doing light weights and in prime position to ride some of Ireland's leading talents this season – Wayne Lordan looks set for a massive 2020.

The Cork native enjoyed a stellar season last year, with the likes of 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa and Breeders' Cup star Iridessa providing him with high-profile successes on the global stage.

With Donnacha O'Brien having departed the weighing room to embark on a training career, there should be greater opportunities available at Ballydoyle for the man who guided Sole Power to victory in the 2010 Nunthorpe Stakes.

Seasonal turf tallies of 19, 24 and 17 in Ireland over the past three years are numerically below his previous campaigns, but he will be partnering some extremely talented horses and looks sure to hit the target plenty in 2020.

Whether it's Roscommon on Monday or Longchamp on Sunday, Lordan is as dependable as they come.

Joey Sheridan: winner of the 2019 Tote Irish Cesarewitch aboard Willie Mullins' Royal IllusionCredit: Patrick McCann

Apprentice: Joey Sheridan

The 18-year-old from Hollyford, County Tipperary has come a long way since partnering his first winner under rules at Dundalk last April and his 7lb claim is an excellent asset.

From a family of riders, Sheridan spent time in pony racing as well as learning his trade with the likes of David Wachman and Aidan O'Brien before joining Denis Hogan's Boherna team.

Cool-headed and a fine judge of pace from the front, there were multiple occasions when Sheridan impressed in getting the very best from his mounts and the reward for his progress came in the shape of an Irish Cesarewitch mount for Willie Mullins.

The opportunity was taken with both hands as Royal Illusion bolted up by eight and a half lengths to give the youngster his biggest win.

Sheridan will likely be hot property in apprentice races and should continue to make hay.

Up Helly Aa: brought along gradually by Willie McCreery to win the Listed Navigation Stakes at Cork last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

Horse: Up Helly Aa

Willie McCreery's handling of the hugely exciting Up Helly Aa resulted in the son of Galileo blooming gradually and a first Group success for the Niarchos family-owned four-year-old is in the offing this term.

The first foal out of the stable's Matron Stakes heroine Fiesolana, he marked himself out as a talented individual when second in a hot Cork maiden last May before bolting up at Gowran on his second outing.

Given time to develop further, he showed the benefit of his Meld Stakes second when toughing it out well to land the Listed Navigation Stakes when last seen at Cork in October, denying the 109-rated Pincheck while in receipt of 3lb.

McCreery's promising performer has the makings of an even better four-year-old and should be closely watched wherever he goes this term.

Read The Lowdown from 8.00am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips