Ryan eyes step up to big time for Kilcarry

KILCARRY Bridge might head for Navan’s Troytown Handicap Chase next month after his fine effort in defeat at Punchestown.

Trainer John Ryan believes the 10-year-old showed he has earned the right to go for big prizes by running Noel Meade’s Cheltenham Festival scorer Road To Respect to a length and a half in the Grade Three Irish Daily Star Chase last week.

‘He’s come out of the race brilliantly and is in really good form. The handicapper wasn’t too hard on him (up 1lb) so that was good,’ said Ryan.

‘We’re not exactly sure where to go with him, but he might go for the Troytown Chase in Navan (November 26). That’s the obvious one to go for with him. He stays three miles really well and he might run in graded races over hurdles.

‘He’s at the stage of his career now (10) where he should go for better races. He’s a better horse than his rating would suggest.’

Elsewhere, Neil Mulholland feels Shantou Village could take his game to another level this season ahead of his return to action in the 188Bet Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

The Grade Two-winning hurdler won four of his five starts over fences last season, his only defeat coming when falling in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton last November.

Despite his success, Mulholland believes his charge was never in peak condition last term and hopes he can produce even greater things this winter.

‘He seems very well and we’re looking forward to getting him started,’ said the trainer.

‘Even though he won four of his five races last season, I never felt he was right. He feels good now and we’re happy he probably didn’t have the hardest of years last year.

‘He’s rated 147 at the moment, that’s after his novice year, so you’d like to think he might just improve a bit. Hopefully he can do the talking.’

The Malcolm Jefferson-trained Cloudy Dream mixed it with the very best as a novice last season. He landed the Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr in April and makes his first appearance since in this two-and-a-half-mile Grade Two.

A high-class field of 13 runners also includes Tom George’s dual Grade One winner God’s Own and the Nick Williamstrained Tea For Two, who won the Betway Bowl at Aintree under Lizzie Kelly last season.