Daly ready for a bumper year

Horses such as Behrejan and Mighty Man have provided him many good days, and although such high profile winners are hard to come by these days, there is plenty of hope that some of his younger horses can go and fill the void left by such good horses.

Set high up on the outskirts of Ludlow, Daly has the ideal base to train horses from. With facilities to house 37 horses at any one time, Henry and his team are always kept busy and as I turn up on a Saturday morning at 7am, the first lot of horses are ready to go to work.

The gallops are set on a steep, steady incline which provides a stern test for the horses – and after a few weeks of running up such an incline fitness is rarely an issue with Daly’s runners.

After another decent season last term, the team at Downton will be hoping for better things this year as they have a strong team of horses to go to war with. There are plenty of nice novice hurdlers and chasers who should make their mark in their respective divisions, and I am predicting another successful year for Henry Daly.

Flashjack

He will run in 3 mile handicap hurdles in the mud. Managed to get himself well handicapped last year due to his inability to jump fences and went on to win four on the bounce. He is still capable of winning of his new mark granted correct conditions.

Spider’s Bite

Disappointing when went to Ayr although he did travel very badly the day before. Had earlier been very promising and he will go novice chasing this term, whether or not we take in a handicap hurdle first, I’m not too sure. He likes good ground and wouldn’t want it too soft.

Chilli Filli

Probably too far off the pace at Cheltenham last time out and could have finished placed if that little bit closer to the pace.

She will probably have a run or two in a hurdle race before we decide whether or not we send her novice chasing as she has come back in stronger. Being by Presenting, she too would appreciate good ground and would want 2m 4f.

Honest Vic

Capable of winning a decent handicap hurdle and we will aim to do so. A strongly run two miles on goodish ground would suit him well, a dawdle and a sprint wouldn’t be to his liking. Should be out in October and will remain over hurdles for the time being.

Stoney Mountain

Surprised me when he won two bumpers last season. Certainly capable of winning one bumper, but winning two did surprise me. We ran in him in the Champion Bumper and although we finished mid division it did turn the light switch on in his mind and he clicked on to what was happening. He will go novice hurdling over a trip and might be seen at Haydock early on.

Lygon Rock

Recently had a wind-op as we knew he had wind issues last year but we still thought he was capable of winning a race, which he did. Fortunately, he won in the ‘new season’ so remains a novice for this year and will probably remain novice hurdling. Due to circumstances he has probably got himself well handicapped and he will have a crack at one or two better races because if the wind-op has worked I think he is better than what we have seen so far.

Whatmore

Wanted to make the running with him but didn’t dare to as he was so free at the beginning of last season. We had to run him in better races after winning ordinary events and he got beat, until he learned to settle which allowed us to make the running with him. He won at Warwick under new tactics and although he will jump a fence I still haven’t made my mind up as to what he does this year.

Vice Et Vertu

He gets three miles but he doesn’t get three and a half so he will stick to three miles from now on. He gets on very well with Paddy Brennan as not many others like riding him. A quirky sort as he has won on a variation of tracks on differing ground and I really don’t know what he prefers.

Innocent Touch

Kept himself well handicapped throughout the summer as he doesn’t win by much. He tends to hit the front and not find a great deal. He won’t run on soft ground throughout the winter and is a proper summer jumper.

Head To The Stars

I would like to go over fences with him but I worry he might not physically able to jump a fence as he has a problem with his stifle. He might not be able to gain the elevation needed to jump a fence but we have kept him in training throughout the summer just to keep his muscle tone and this should help. He ran some cracking races last year and is a decent horse.

Petronella Manners

Ran well at Huntingdon and I think she could be quite good. She got too far back at Cheltenham last time but remains a novice for this year. I hope for further improvement this season.

Thedrinkymeister

Didn’t know an awful lot about him before he ran and won on his debut for us. Richard (Johnson) got off him and said he thought he only just stayed three miles so he perhaps doesn’t necessarily want three miles and he may drop back in trip.

Kalifornia

Won a nice bumper which Teme Spirit came second in at Bangor. She may have a run at Carlisle in a bumper under a penalty before going to Cheltenham in November for the Listed Mares Bumper.

Ruby Tiger

Been running well in bumpers especially the one at Ludlow. The winner and the second were both expensive purchases and she performed well against them. She could progress again this year.

Others To Note

Black Tulip is a nice sort and should have a good season. Rapper is a young horse with ability and made a promising debut. Teme Spirit ran in the bumper that Kalifornia won and should also win a bumper somewhere before progressing on to better things.