Uranna will bid to provide the Supreme Horse Racing Club with its first National Hunt winner on British soil as she crosses the Irish Sea to contest the Weatherbys GSB Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Friday.
The successful syndicate enjoyed Royal Ascot glory when Pique Sous clinched victory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes last summer, but that remains their only winner outside of Ireland. French recruit Uranna made an encouraging debut for Willie Mullins when third at Limerick in early November and she returned to the Patrickswell circuit to get off the mark on Boxing Day.
She steps up to Listed class for her latest assignment, with Ruby Walsh travelling over for the ride.
Supreme racing manager, Steve Massey, said: “We always thought a lot of her but she picked up an injury when she came over from France and the owners have to be very patient, but hopefully it will pay off.
“We were delighted with her at Limerick over Christmas and the second and third have won since, so the form looks good. “The better ground should suit her. She won on heavy ground last time, but we definitely think she can improve on better ground.
“It’s great to be having a runner at Sandown on a big day and if she can pick up some prize-money and a big of black type, we’ll be delighted.
“We think she’s a chaser for next year and anything she does over hurdles will be a bonus, but we’re hopeful for tomorrow.”
Uranna features in an 11-runner field, with the Peter Bowen-trained Rons Dream the highest rated mare in the line-up. Nicky Henderson runs Broxbourne and Heltara, while the Alan King-trained Gabriella Rose and Madame Trigger from Dan Skelton’s yard are also in contention. Jonjo O’Neill’s Saint Lucy is the only four-year-old lining up and receives plenty of weight from her elders.
Adrian Maguire is undecided as to whether to let Two Rockers make his Irish Rules debut in Sunday’s Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle at Navan.
The eight-year-old achieved a rating in the 140s over hurdles when trained by Alan King, but disappointed in Britain last season and joined Maguire late in 2014. He has made a fine start for his new trainer in the point-to-point sphere, winning three of his four starts, and is as short as 8/1 for the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Maguire has warned, however, that his charge is far from certain to head to Prestbury Park next month. “We’re just sitting tight and we’ll see what’s likely to turn up in the Navan race before we make a decision,” he said.
“He’s run in four point-to-points for us, he’s won three and was unlucky the last day at the last when it looked like he would have won (unseated rider).
“He has an engine, but he’s obviously had a few problems along the way as well. He’s in good heart at the moment, though.
“It’s all a bit up in the air at the moment. There are a few options coming up for him and we’ll just wait and see what we do. “I have another horse for the Cheltenham race.”
The horse in question is Seventh Sign, who like Two Rockers is owned by Masterson Holdings and was formerly trained by King. He chased home Prince De Beauchene in a hunter chase at Thurles last month and won his third point-to-point last weekend.
“He’s also won three of his four points and was just touched off in his other,” said Maguire. “He was a good second to Prince De Beauchene in Thurles. There’s nothing wrong with that and Prince De Beauchene doesn’t qualify for Cheltenham.
“The third from Thurles (Aurora Bell) won in Down Royal on Wednesday, so the form is good. “He could go to Cheltenham and if he does Declan Queally would ride him.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s action, Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten novice Ptit Zig is among a field of six declared for the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase.
Nicholls decided to pitch the six-year-old against more experienced rivals after stablemate Al Ferof was ruled out with a setback earlier in the week.
Ptit Zig has won all his four starts over fences so far, including one at Ascot, and is a leading fancy for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Willie Mullins will rely on Ballycasey after taking out Champagne Fever, who has an entry in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran.
Alan King has declared last season’s Grade One novice chase scorer Balder Succes, Nicky Henderson runs Ma Filleule and Rajdhani Express while Colin Tizzard’s Theatre Guide completes the line-up.
Rigadin De Beauchene, who has finished first and second in the last two renewals of the Betfred Grand National Trial, is among 13 horses declared for the staying handicap chase at Haydock tomorrow.
The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old took the prize 12 months ago after finishing second to Well Refreshed in 2013. He has been pulled up in all his three starts since his 2014 win.
The weights are headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Benvolio while Monbeg Dude is set to take his chance for trainer Michael Scudamore.
