It’s Cheltenham next if Le Vent passes big test
LIZ DOYLE reckons she’s only saddled one Grade One runner in her training career – never mind led one back into the winner’s enclosure – until now. Should her stable star, Le Vent D’Antan, blow down his rivals in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown (2.45) today, though, she will get to appreciate the post-race revelry that has become almost commonplace for Willie Mullins et al.
Not that she, for one moment, begrudges the heavy artillery which the likes of Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Noel Meade, and others, have at their disposal.
‘You have to earn the right to train the level of horses like Willie and the other top trainers have,’ she said as she prepares to square up to the Goliaths of the jump game. She has her own Goliath by her side, however, in the horse’s syndicate owners. Named after a wager, which involves eight selections and 247 separate bets, the Goliath partnership is in racing for fun – the few bob is a bonus.
From the moment, Le Vent D’Antan was installed in her stables in Crossabeg, outside Wexford town, the owners were insistent the horse would stay put. It has allowed Doyle to shape a racing strategy (denied her with other fine prospects) for Le Vent D’Antan, whose grand-dam, Pebbles, was a peerless middle-distance flier on the Flat.
Al Ferof and Cheltenian, for example, were sold out of her yard after impressive career overtures and each went on to plunder Festival booty for Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs respectively.
Two years ago, she saddled Le Vent D’Antan, the 7/1 joint favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, but the dream of following fellow trainers Colm Murphy and Paul Nolan as Wexford-based Festival winners, evaporated.
‘He was riddled with ulcers, was very light, and didn’t do himself justice,’ she recalled of the seventhplace finish behind Briar Hill. Le Vent D’Antan didn’t reappear until January 2014, and has since progressed, scooping a win over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival before impressing in a Beginners’ Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.
That route of a decent field, including the Mullins-trained Un Atout, convinced her to trade punches today with the classy staying novices in the care of Mullins (Valseur Lido and Jarry D’Honeur) and Noel Meade (Apache Stronghold).
If she is nervous about stepping into the ring with the heavyweights, it’s not evident. ‘It’s about doing the job right and getting the horse to the racecourse in top condition,’ she said. ‘It’s nice to be going to Leopardstown with a chance. Last time, it was only his second run over fences; he jumped really well and took to the course,’ she observed.
‘We’re delighted with the shape he’s in. He enjoys being in front, doesn’t like it in behind horses, getting messed about and I suspect Davy Russell will ride him with that in mind. He’s going up in class this time. If he’s in the money, I’ll be thrilled,’ she added.
For any novice to win from the front over two miles and five around Leopardstown, requires jumping ability, stamina and class. And should Le Vent D’Antan display such qualities today, Doyle, daughter of politician Avril Doyle, and a mother of two, will take aim for Cheltenham next month with a certain degree of confidence for either the JLT Chase or the longer RSA Chase.
The profile her yard acquires from a Grade One horse can’t be overstated. She lies 16th in the trainers’ table this season but the last of her 12 winners was Le Vent D’Antan at Christmas. Even so, there is time to overhaul last season’s tally of 17, her highest.
‘It’s tough going training horses, at any level and it’s hard to make money. We buy and sell a lot of horses,’ she added. ‘We don’t have many big owners in the yard; hopefully that will be different down the line.’
Should Le Vent D’Antan blow a gale today, a phone call from the likes of Gigginstown House, JP McManus, and Barry Connell, among others, may not be long coming.