Fresh from Tuesday’s win at Ffos Las with Thomas MacDonagh, the Folly House team are aiming to keep the winners coming this week.
Last week
It was lovely to see Thomas MacDonagh win at Ffos Las yesterday. He came into the race having won at Hexham on his second last start and was subsequently given a rather lenient mark following that success.
Since then, he went to Wetherby and won a Conditional Jockeys Handicap, meaning he arrived at Ffos Las escaping a penalty. We were delighted to see him complete the treble, it’s very rewarding when a plan comes together.
Going forward, we could see him go for the Grade 2 River Don at Doncaster in January.
Kiltealy Briggs ran a lovely race when finishing 3rd at Cheltenham on Saturday. It was always the plan to step him up in trip here, and despite being a bit keen early on, he stayed well from the last and finished the race strongly.
He’s a horse with a huge amount of talent, and when he puts it all together, he could be very good. He’s definitely a chaser in the making, however, I think he’ll be a very good hurdler before going over fences.
All being well, we’ll probably aim to go for the Grade 2 at Haydock in February before tackling the Albert Bartlett at The Festival.
The Honeydipper showed a lot of promise when finishing 4th yesterday at Plumpton. There was definite improvement and it gives us something to work with going forward.
This week’s entries
Pisagh Pike makes his debut for us since arriving from Ireland after running reasonably well in two bumpers. He had some wind issues, so that’s been sorted now. He goes well at home and is a very likeable horse. If he can replicate this onto the racecourse, he could go close here.
Exod’ela will go to Exeter on Thursday in the Novice Hurdle. He was 2nd last time out on hurdles debut at Hereford. He’s a nice horse and I think the step up in trip will suit, so he goes there with every chance.
Next up on Thursday, College Oak is entered in the Maiden Hurdle at Hereford. He finished 2nd last time out at Ffos Las when he ran a good race on hurdling debut. Again, he is another one of ours that is progressing nicely, so we’re hopeful he can go one better here.
Timcoda is entered at both Exeter on Thursday and Uttoxeter on Friday, with the latter being his more likely destination just now. He was meant to run last week at Southwell, but we had to pull him out due to a bruised foot. If he’s okay, we’ll take our chance on Friday.
Barrowlands is entered in the Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter on Friday. He comes here after winning at Sedgefield last time out on his 2nd start for us. He has since been given a mark of 118, which isn’t the most lenient, but still something we can work with.
He handles heavy ground and stays excellently, so all being right we’re expecting him to run well again.
On Saturday, Coole Well goes for the Novices’ Chase at Haydock. He arrives here after finishing second last time on his chasing debut. This one looks like a competitive race; however, he’s come out of that race well and we’re hoping if he puts his best foot forward, he could be in the mix at the business end.
Early Morning Rain will line up in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock. She’s won two novice hurdles fairly comfortably, so deserves to step up in class here. Again, it looks competitive, but she arrives here in good form and we expect her to go well.
The plan is to send the Thebannerkingrebel to Leopardstown on the 27th of December. He’s come out of his win in the listed race at Haydock very well and his work has been very good leading into this.
He’s stepping up from listed level to Grade 1, however, he should relish the track and conditions. He is in great order and we go into the race confident that if he puts his best foot forward, he could go close.
