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Hi Reader
It has been three weeks since our last Eye Catchers update.
A busy time leading into the Cheltenham Festival with time at a premium. Today. I have eigth eye catchers covering recent weeks to get us back up to date.
Check out eye catchers for this week below:
Kiely’s Place
Kiely’s Place - 1st in 12.49 Clonmel 26/02/2026
Kiely’s Place made it a winning start on his first run for Willie Mullins. He won an Irish point before moving yards from Eugene O’Sullivan to Willie Mullins. This horse won his maiden hurdle as he liked at Clonmel. As a pointer it made sense to race him over two and a half miles with stamina assured.
The placed runners brought decent form to this race yet were blown away by Kiely’s Place. A graded horse for sure on soft/heavy ground and should be interesting when sent novice chasing next season likely in new owners colours.
Miami Magic
Miami Magic - 1st in 3.00 Newbury 27/02/2026
Miami Magic handled the step up in distance to almost three miles fine. He is proving a better chaser than hurdler. He finished second in a Grade 2 hurdle at Kempton before running in a Grade 1 at the Aintree Festival last season. Ultimately, he fell a little short at Aintree finishing seventh to Honesty Policy.
Miami Magic has improved for each run over fences this season. He beat Regent's Stroll at Cheltenham and then finished third to Sixmilebridge in the Scilly Isles chase at Sandown. The soft ground was not ideal at Sandown with Miami Magic bouncing back with a win up in distance at Newbury. This horse is a player over three miles on spring ground at the Aintree Festival.
Lovely Hurling
Lovely Hurling - 2nd in 3.35 Navan 28/02/2026
Lovely Hurling has finished second in all three runs over fences. The horses that beat him are top class like Kopek Des Bordes, Kargese & Jacob’s Ladder. Lovely Hurling caught many a judges eye with his strong finish over two miles at Navan at Grade 3 level. The handicapper has given him a mark of 145 which is fair enough. The thing is that Lovely Hurling is crying out for two and a half miles or further. It will be interesting to find out if JP McManus decides to run him in a graded race or handicap at the Fairyhouse or Punchestown Festivals. A horse that travels and jumps well and ready to win.
Scorpio Rising
Scorpio Rising - 1st in 1.50 Sandown 07/03/2026
Scorpio Rising won the EBF novice handicap hurdle final at Sandown impressively. Settled out the back by Sean Bowen, he caught the eye travelling well. He made up ground easily from the back of the field to win comfortably. This win made it four wins in a row with Scorpio Rising an exciting prospect going forward over hurdles or fences.
He seems to love winter ground and has a turn of foot. Olly Murphy might run him again this season but if not this horse will be a good one to remember on easy ground over hurdles or fences next season.
Soldier Reeves
Soldier Reeves - 4th in 1.20 Cheltenham 11/03/2026
A remarkable run by Soldier Reeves in the Grade 1 Turners Novice Hurdle. He was sent off a 150/1 rag but ran a huge race to finish fourth. A massive step forward with the step up from two miles and five furlongs improving the son of Soldier of Fortune. The ground was good most of the week at Cheltenham and it was obvious that horses ridden forward had a major advantage.
Nevertheless, Soldier of Reeves was ridden cold in plum last and only made a move after the hurdle down the hill. He picked up strongly and would have been third but for bunny hopping the final hurdle. A graded horse for sure and could well get three miles in the novice grade 1 at Aintree.
Oscars Brother
Oscars Brother - 4th in 2.00 Cheltenham 11/03/2026
Oscars Brother is the type of chaser any owner would love to own. He gives you his all, no matter the race and once again battled on strongly for fourth place in the Brown Advisory Novice Chase at Cheltenham. It is clear the ground was plenty quick for him over three miles as he was flat out all the way.
Conor King has a proper Grade 1 horse on his hands and connections will be tempted to run him in either the Irish or Aintree Grand Nationals. The extra distance of a national will suit and he would get away with it on good to soft ground. Whatever happens this season he is a proper staying chaser to follow on winter ground.
Only By Night
Only By Night - 2nd in 2.40 Cheltenham 13/03/2026
Only By Night ran a cracker in the mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival. She went clear of the field with the winner Dinoblue losing out by less than two lengths. The good ground suits Only By Night who proved that she stays well over two and a half miles.
Dinoblue put in her best round of jumping ever to my eye and yet Only By Night had the pace to follow her. Gavin Cromwell has a good one and with age on her side she could well be the mare to beat in the mares chase next season.
Jump Allen
Jump Allen - 3rd in 5.20 Cheltenham 13/03/2026
I think everyone knows by now that Jump Allen was the most unlucky loser at the Cheltenham Festival. He did ever so well to gallop up the hill strongly to land third place. Anne McGuiness got stopped in her tracks more than once approaching the final hurdle which ultimately cost her and Jump Allen the win.
It was a rough race with space at a premium due to the slow pace set up front. That resulted in most of the runners still in contention turning for home. A cracking first run of the season by Jump Allen who was having his first run back since winning on the final day of last season at Sandown. He stays well and loves spring ground. A two pound hike in the rating is lenient and he will be winning sooner than later. A proper big horse to go novice chasing next season too!
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