Big Blue: behind the scenes with the Australian hurdler ahead of his Naas bid

Georgie Dennis, part of the team behind Australian hurdler Big Blue and a journalist for ANZ, talks about the eight-year-old's preparation for the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

From Ballarat to Warrnambool to Kempton and now Naas, our Australian hurdler Big Blue is now set for his next big task in Ireland.

He's had time to get over his disappointing day out at Kempton where he pulled up, and now he’s been set the task of the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle.

He had his final schooling session at Lambourn on Wednesday and then a gallop on Thursday before loading up on the horse box in the evening and beginning his journey to Ireland.

As a seasoned traveller, he handled the trip better than any of us and arrived at the Curragh as though he’d been in the box for 13 minutes rather than 13 hours.

Strutting around his new yard in true Big Blue fashion, he already thinks he owns the place.

He had a couple of hours to eat some breakfast and settle into his temporary home before heading off for his first look at the Curragh gallops where he was greeted by a herd of about 500 sheep, something he hadn't encountered in Australia.

As the inquisitive soul that he is, he bounded up the track with his eyes wide and looking left and right, trying to figure out what these little fluffy white animals were lining his path.

'Blizzle', as he is affectionately known by his co-trainer Ciaron Maher, looked in terrific order doing an easy canter with another horse leading him up under work rider Sarah Webster.

He had another canter on Saturday morning and its game day on Sunday.

We're confident he can put in a good performance but as always, all we really care about is that he comes home safe and sound.

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