Mick Winters again? Chatham Street Lad trainer runs another talent in feature

2.00 Thurles
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

The feature event on the final day of Irish racing before Christmas should prove to be extremely informative with an eye to the future, as proven Graded performer Sayce Gold, seeking a fourth win in 40 days, locks horns with hugely exciting youngster Gauloise.

The former, trained by last weekend's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup hero Mick Winters, will turn eight in the next fortnight and has been rewarding connections' patience of late, while her biggest challenger, hailing from the Willie Mullins camp, is just four.

Owned by Kenny Alexander, Gauloise produced a very taking Irish debut over hurdles when scoring over the minimum distance at this track three weeks ago, now priced between 10-1 and 12-1 for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Gauloise: among the leading contenders for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in MarchCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Her Trevor Hemmings-owned rival is available from 12-1 to 16-1 for the same race but this 2m assignment should tell us plenty about whether she has the necessary pace for a task like that, having won readily over 3m in Grade 3 company at Cork a fortnight ago.

Perhaps an even greater difficulty for the mare, who has won both of her hurdles starts by eight lengths, is giving 10lb to Gauloise, as per race and age conditions.

Fellow four-year-old Kapard, trained by Henry de Bromhead, gets 6lb from Sayce Gold and had the form of her Wexford win boosted handsomely last week at Cheltenham, with Make Good, second on that occasion, bolting up in a Grade 2 Albert Bartlett trial.

Mighty Blue was placed behind Dawn Patrol and Barrington Court in the Group 3 Loughbrown Stakes on the Flat earlier this year but made a pleasing transition to hurdling at Gowran last month when fourth.

Kapard: beat last weekend's Cheltenham winner Make Good in OctoberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

She lacks the hurdling experience of the leading players but clearly has a good level of ability, while Anna Bunina's mark of 130 puts her in contention to pick up some black type in the first three.

What they say

Mick Winters, trainer of Sayce Gold
She'll love the ground and going over two miles shouldn't bottom her out. She looks in great order and I'm very happy with her. She only floats around at home between races. We have to give weight away to some of the younger fillies and it's probably a little step up for her but we'll know where we stand after this.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Kapard
She's in good nick and the form of her Wexford win has been franked since. It's sure to be a competitive race and this will be a stepping stone for her – we're learning about her and she's learning about the game.

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Peter Fahey, trainer of Two Shoe Tom
It looks a very competitive race and if we could pick up some black type with her it'd be fantastic. She probably hasn't progressed as much over hurdles but goes there in good form.

Peter Molony, racing manager to Kenny Alexander, owner of Gauloise
We were very impressed with the way she quickened up between the last two hurdles last time and Joseph's filly in second that day [Global Equity] is a good horse. It looks a competitive race and you'd have to like Mick Winters' filly but we're getting 10lb from her and hopefully Gauloise can progress from her last run.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Mighty Blue
She ran well on her first start over hurdles in bad ground. We're happy with how she's come out of that so hopefully she can run well, and if she could get some black type it'd be brilliant.

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