Hi Reader

I'm back with six eye catchers covering the past two weeks.

We are getting to the business end of the season with the spring festivals just around the corner.

I will email out separately regarding the Cheltenham Festival next week. It going to get busy!

Check out eye catchers for this week below:

​View Eye Catchers List Here​

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William Munny

William Munny - 1st in 2.55 Punchestown 20/02/25

William Munny came of age to win this listed novice hurdle at Punchestown. He was a high class bumper horse who won twice last season before finishing third in the champion bumper at the Punchestown Festival. Barry Connell started him off over hurdles at Leopardstown at Christmas. He ran well but fell in a hole having raced too freely allowing Workahead gallop clear at the finish.

Next up he ran at Fairyhouse and went hard up front in a duel with Koktail Divin. Both horses paid the price and more so Koktail Divin with Kawaboomga coming from off the pace to win. It was clear that William Munny was classy but running too freely. Connections decided to drop him out the back in this race and it worked a treat with William Munny settling well before quickening clear up the straight like a good horse. Riding him off the pace looks the key to getting the best from William Munny. He could be a live Supreme novice hurdle contender if heading across the water.

Jade de Grugy

Jade de Grugy - 1st in 3.25 Punchestown 20/02/25

Jade de Grugy finally made the racecourse this season and won nicely. She looks as good as ever and loves soft ground. Last season, she was good and finished third behind Golden Ace and Brigtherdaysahead in the Cheltenham novice mares hurdle. That is strong form and she was just caught for speed over two miles.

The step up to two and a half miles can see Jade de Grugy improve further. Willie Mullins said she would improve plenty from this run and that makes her the one to beat over two and a half miles in the mares hurdle on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. That is of course with Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead running in the Champion Hurdle.

Gameofinches

Gameofinches - 1st in 5.00 Punchestown 20/02/25

Willie Mullins didn’t look to have a good bunch of bumper horses until the last few weeks. All of a sudden the top guns have hit the track with Gameofinches, another impressive bumper winner for the Closutton stables. A big chasing type who took time before winning a five year old point to point for Paul Cashman.

Willie says he was working nicely at home and showed that on the course here. I can see him going well in the Cheltenham bumper if progressing from this run for UK owner Professor Caroline Tisdall. He is well related being a half brother to The Kalooki Kid trained by Nicky Richards.

Katate Dori

Katate Dori - 1st in 3.35 Kempton 22/02/25

Katate Dori is an obvious one to add to the eye catchers. He demolished a good field to win the Ladbrokes Trophy Premier Handicap chase at Kempton by fifteen lengths! It is not often we see such a competitive and valuable race turned into a procession. Katate Dori raced wide and came around the whole field to win like a good thing.

He is miles ahead of the handicapper and remains well treated off an 11lb higher mark of 136. Hyland who finished second is a Grade 1 horse who ran his race carrying a big weight. Katate Dori has won three from four over fences and finished second on his other run. He has the correct profile for a major shot at the Ultima Handicap Chase on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival.

I’ll Sort That

I’ll Sort That - 1st in 4.20 Naas 23/02/25

This bumper was the last race run at Naas before the card was abandoned due to the ground. It was proper winter heavy ground with I’ll Sort That galloping through it impressively. What a season young trainer Declan Queally is enjoying and this son of Sandmason looks a proper horse to train over the coming season.

He will end up a stayer for sure but with lots of class. This bumper is always won by a good type with previous winners including William Munny, Stellar Story, Gerri Colombe, Farouk D’alene, Carefully Selected. I’ll Sort That will not head to Cheltenham but could rock up at the Fairyhouse festival in a winners bumper. It will be interesting to see if he can run well on spring ground.

Doyen Du Bar

Doyen Du Bar - 1st in 3.25 Ayr 24/02/25

This is a proper horse who loves jumping and is being kept away from the Cheltenham Festival. He is a horse to follow at the Aintree or Ayr festivals. He is lightly raced for a nine year old having suffered from stress fractures twice in the past. A proper two miler who has taken his form to a higher level over fences this season.

Pauline Robinson who trains hinted that he will be freshened up the Ayr festival in April. His collateral form is looking better and better each week. He beat The Kalooki Kid at Ayr on good ground in November. Next up he won at Aintree with Booster Bob second. On his previous run he finished second to Vincenzo at Sandown which is rock solid form. The handicapper has upped Doyen Du Bar five pounds to a chasing mark of 131. That looks fine and we look forward to seeing his novice chaser at the spring festivals.
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Happy Punting,

Hugh

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