Hot views from trainers as Love bids to conquer all

Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 16th Mares Chase | 2m2f | 4yo+ | ATR

Gordon Elliott's sight may well be set on Del Mar and Beckford's bid for Breeders' Cup glory this weekend, but the prospect of smart mare Shattered Love doubling her chasing tally under rules will surely excite the Cullentra trainer.

Below her best when sent off an 8-1 shot for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, the Grade 3 novice hurdle-winning daughter of Yeats made a blistering start to life over fences at Fairyhouse last month, accounting for a mares' beginners' field by 26 lengths at odds of 1-6.

Assistant trainer Davy Condon said of the six-year-old, who is rated 136 over hurdles: "We were delighted with her at Fairyhouse and she jumped well over what probably wouldn't have been her favourite trip."

She returns from that 2m5f to Clonmel's 2m2f test, and Condon added: "She has plenty of pace and we wouldn't be afraid about the drop in trip – Jack [Kennedy] felt she jumped better last time when he let her go on. This is another day of experience for her."

Roger McGrath, trainer of Miss Eyecatcher, says: 'She's been a lovely mare to have but we've a bit to find with Shattered Love based on our hurdle days'Credit: Patrick McCann

The biggest danger for the Gigginstown mare probably lies in the hat-trick-hunting Miss Eyecatcher, who encountered older and more experienced rivals at Tipperary last month.

Trainer Roger McGrath said: "She's been a lovely mare to have, but we've a bit to find with Shattered Love based on our hurdle days. Hopefully she can do herself justice."

He added: "It isn't just Gordon's mare either that we have to worry about, there's a few others who are capable in their own right too.

"Our mare isn't short of speed though, now dropping back from 2m4f to 2m2f, and she won on decent ground over 2m at Galway."

Emcon must return to form to better Shattered Love and Miss Eyecatcher, according to Willie AustinCredit: Alain Barr

Cloughjordan trainer Willie Austin is represented by course-and-distance winner Emcon, rated 4lb inferior to Miss Eyecatcher on offical ratings but needing to bounce back from a below-par effort on her most recent run at Punchestown.

Austin said: "She'll like the ground and trip but we were hugely disappointed with her last run, even though that came over hurdles and she now switches to fences."

He added: "The top two look fairly useful and she'll probably have her work cut out in taking them on, but it'd be nice to see her get back to form."

Donal McInerney takes a valuable 7lb off Seamus Spillane's Goulane Davina in the seven-runner affair, Knockraha Pylon has the assistance of Davy Russell for the first time in her career, with Lily Yeats and Head Turner completing the field.

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