Tornado takes aim at Naas for Mullins
TORNADOFLYER is likely to head Willie Mullins’ assault on the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle as he bids for an eighth win in the Grade One at the Kildare course on Sunday.
The six-year-old made a winning debut over hurdles at Punchestown last month, after ending last term with victory in the Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival.
Come To Me and Getareason are the other two possible Mullins representatives.
‘Tornado Flyer would look a likely one and there’s a couple of others that could run there, too,’ said the Closutton handler.
‘Come To Me was a good winner of his maiden hurdle at Cork a few weeks ago and Getareason is another that could line up. He ran well at Navan over this trip last month.’
In-form trainer Joseph O’Brien is looking to secure his second Grade One success of the season with Lone Wolf.
He looked to have a bright future when making a winning return to action at Fairyhouse last month. The six-year-old was also successful in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival in April.
‘The plan is to run Lone Wolf on Sunday,’ said O’Brien. ‘It was nice to start the year off with a winner at Fairyhouse on Tuesday and hopefully Lone Wolf can represent us well in the first Grade One of the year at Naas on Sunday.’
O’Brien has also left in Choungaya and Naas maiden hurdle winner Rhinestone.
The 17 possibles also include the unbeaten Battleoverdoyen, one of five horses that could represent trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud.
The Meath-based handler can also call on the Gigginstown-owned Defi Bleu, Felix Desjy, Monbeg Worldwide and Commander Of Fleet.
Noel Meade last won the race in 2012 with Monksland and could seek to bridge that gap with First Approach and Valdieu.
Further ahead, Meade is eyeing compensation in the Irish Gold Cup for Road To Respect following his luckless run at Leopardstown last Friday.
After making a scintillating reappearance in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, the Gigginstown House Studowned eight-year-old was favourite to successfully defend his crown in the newlynamed Savills Chase.
However, he stumbled badly on the run to the second fence from the finish before taking third behind Kemboy.
Last season Road To Respect went straight from Christmas to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but this year he could first return to Leopardstown for the Irish Gold Cup on February 3.
Meade said: ‘It was good to see him finish the race well and he’s fine since, which is the main thing.’
Coney Island was seventh in the Savills Chase, a run which has pleased his trainer Eddie Harty. The eight-year-old was still in contention at the final fence when a mistake cost him his chance.
‘He came out of it fine. I was very pleased with him,’ said Harty. ‘He was challenging up to the last. He clouted the last and it knocked the wind out of his sails which was a pity but it was very encouraging.
‘The race was only last Friday and it’s been a busy period for Frank (Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus) so we haven’t had a chance to sit down and discuss a plan. We’ll probably do it later in the week.
‘He’s come out of the race very well, he ran very well up to a mistake at the last. He was a challenger. There were lots of positives.’