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O’Brien Predicts Piz Badile Improvement Ahead Of Curragh Return

Donnacha O'Brien is predicting that Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) will strip a lot fitter for his comeback effort in the G3 Alleged S. at the Curragh on Sunday and identified the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup as the early-season target for last year's Irish Derby runner-up.

The trainer also provided an upbeat bulletin on the hugely-exciting Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who could get his season underway in the G3 Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 7.

Piz Badile will face just five rivals on Sunday, including likely favourite Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with O'Brien optimistic that the best may yet be to come from his charge at four.

He said, “Piz Badile is in good form and has done very well from three to four. It will be nice to get him started and hopefully the ground dries out a little bit for him. He doesn't mind a bit of juice in the ground but I'd rather if it wasn't heavy ground. We're looking forward to the year ahead with him.”

Asked how he reflects on last season with Piz Badile, O'Brien said, “I suppose he won his Derby Trial well and then we went to Epsom for the Derby and he didn't really handle the track. He went on to run a very good race to finish second in the Irish Derby and then the ground was like flint in France for the Grand Prix de Paris. He pulled out of that race a little bit jarred which is why we gave him the rest of the year off.

“Looking at his pedigree and even physically, he's a horse who was always going to make up into a better four-year-old, and we had that in the back of our minds even at the start of last season's campaign.

“The plan was to use this race as a prep for the Tattersalls Gold Cup, which is over the same course and distance, and I think he will come on a lot from whatever he does on Sunday. He'll come on plenty for it and is going to be a lot better on better ground.”

Proud And Regal | Scoop Dyga

O'Brien revealed that Nell Gwyn S. entry Not Even Close (Ire) (Zoustar {Aus}) is an unlikely runner at Newmarket on Wednesday but confirmed that Wodao (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) would definitely take his chance in the G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly on Monday.

He said, “Wodao had a really nice comeback run behind Tenebrism (Caravaggio) at Cork. We didn't have him entered in this race but it popped up and the ground is soft over there, which will be to his liking. He takes his racing well and we thought it looked a nice opportunity to put him in. Some of the Irish sprints can be very competitive and even some of our listed races will be the equivalent Group 2s and Group 1s because of the types of horses who will be using such races as preps.”

On Not Even Close, he added, “She's a lovely filly and has done really well throughout the winter but I don't think she'll be running in the Nell Gwyn. As is the case with most of mine, we're trying to find a bit of nice ground for her somewhere, but it's been a bit of a nightmare start to the year with all of the rain that we're getting.

“I bought her for Justin Carthy and then Qatar Racing bought into her after she won nicely at Dundalk. It's my first horse for Qatar and I think she's a smart filly. Obviously she is completely unproven at any kind of stakes grade but, on her work at home, she looks as though she can make up into a stakes filly.”

But there's no doubting the great hope for O'Brien this season is Proud And Regal, a winner of the G1 Criterium International when last seen in October.

O'Brien said, “He's a lovely horse and has done well over the winter. We didn't run him in any of the early trials as he'd have had to carry the Group 1 penalty.

“At the minute, we're aiming him at the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, as he wouldn't have a penalty in that. We could see where we want to go with him after that.

“He could go the Derby route or he could even drop back for something like the Irish 2,000 Guineas. But we'll start him off at Leopardstown first and then decide about where we want to go afterwards.”

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Corach Rambler Takes Grand National Glory As Nine Protestors Arrested

Corach Rambler provided trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox with their second Grand National triumph at Aintree on Saturday after the race was delayed due to a number of animal rights activists storming the track.

Successful in 2017 with One For Arthur, Russell and Fox repeated the trick with Corach Rambler, who had enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Vanillier at the winning line.

A winner at the past two Cheltenham Festivals, Corach Rambler was sent off an 8-1 favourite in a race that was delayed by over 15 minutes due to the protests that led to Merseyside Police arresting nine people.

Russell said, “Those guys that went out to protest on the course, they think it's about horse welfare but that horse loves the sport. He loves everything that he does. He's kept in the best condition and I'm just so delighted that he can run in a race like that and perform like that.

“He has got greatness and it's what he deserves. Corach Rambler, in our hearts, is just the best horse. Now in the public hearts he is as well. To win the National, I know how important it is, I know how it changed my life with Arthur–for Corach to achieve that too is just fantastic.

“It's all about the horse, for me it's not about the betting–though I did back him and quite a lot actually!”

She added, “I hope those guys who were protesting will look at our website and our Facebook posts and see how they are looked after. It is so important they understand how we care for them every inch of the way.

“It is about Corach, he is just amazing. He took to those fences brilliantly, he understood them, he worked them out–he loved it.”

Fox had sat out the first two days of the meeting in order to recover from injury in time to ride Corach Rambler.

The jubilant rider said, “He is just the most wonderful thing ever, he deserved to win this. I got a fall last week and banged my shoulder, it was far from ideal. I was worried all week. I thank God I was back in time because it was the thrill of my life to ride him.

“It's thanks to the support of Lucinda and Scu [Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer and Russell's partner] for having the faith in me to put me up after not riding all week. I feel very lucky to be working for these great people.

“I think he'd the profile and he's loads of class–I just can't believe it.”

Animal Rising had threatened to disrupt the Aintree showpiece and were protesting from early on Saturday morning outside the track.

As the National runners were in the parade ring, a number of people breached security fences around the venue and ran on to the course, with at least two people affixing themselves to a jump using glue and lock-on devices

All of the intruders were apprehended, and the Merseyside Police commented afterwards, “We can confirm that nine people have been arrested at Aintree Racecourse today.

“Just after 5pm, a large number of protesters attempted to gain entry on to the course. The majority were prevented from breaching the boundary fencing, but the nine individuals who managed to enter the course were later arrested by officers.”

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Onesto Heads Chappet Team of Bright Young Prospects

Fabrice Chappet has already bagged one Classic trial this season and, weather permitting, has another two chances of group-race success this weekend with Fortune (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) entered in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles and Paz (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte.

On April 6, Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {Fr}) became the trainer's second winner of the G3 Prix Djebel. The first, Dice Roll (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), went on to run third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, with that race now the target for Hisaaki Saito's colt, who is a grandson of Cheveley Park Stud's 1,000 Guineas heroine and four-time Group 1 winner Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo)

“He's come out of the race perfectly,” says Chappet of Good Guess, who has been one of the trainer's favourites since his arrival in the yard from Tattersalls, where he was plucked from Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale for 420,000gns by Sebastien Desmontils on behalf of the Japanese owner.

“The good thing about French racing is that it's not run at a crazy pace so horses usually come out of their races better that way. Good Guess was a nice two-year-old and he had a good winter, so all is well so far.”

The current stable star at Chappet's Chantilly stable is Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), whose 2022 season included victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Prix Greffulhe as well as splitting Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) when second in the G1 Irish Champion S.

“He should go to the Prix Ganay first, all being well,” says the trainer of the four-year-old, who runs in the colours of Gerard Augustin-Normand. “There are some good horses in the race but there aren't many options at this time of the year for Group 1 horses in France. But he had a good winter and I'm very happy with him.

“He had a two-month break at the farm after the Japan Cup. He'll go to the Ganay first and we'll consider the options in Groups 1s in Europe over 2,000m and 2,400m in the first half of the year. We may look at travelling him farther afield in the second part of the season.”

Looking ahead to Sunday, Chappet says of his two runners aiming to prove their Classic potential, “Fortune goes for the Prix Noailles and he's two-for-two. It's his first race of the year but he won twice last year. Paz is two-for-two as well and is a very nice Siyouni filly. It's a bit ground dependent so we will wait to see how much rain they have at Longchamp.”

Chappet tasted Classic success for the first time when Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) took the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for Brendan and Anne-Marie Hayes in 2017 before being sold to Peter Brant to continue her career with Chad Brown in America. Since then, Speak Of The Devil (Fr) and Mageva (Fr), both daughters of Wootton Bassett (GB), have been placed in the French Guineas, as well as the aforementioned Dice Roll.

There was also reflected glory to be had when Chappet's former resident Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), whom he trained to win the G2 Prix Greffulhe two years before Onesto, won the Melbourne Cup for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace last November.

At this time of year, however, life in a training yard is all about looking forward rather than reflecting on the past, and Chappet highlighted to TDN a few members of his juvenile team of 2023 to keep an eye on as summer rolls on.

“We'll have our first two-year-old runners probably at the end of May,” he says.

“One of my first two-year-olds to run will be a filly called Zeplacetobe (Fr). She's a daughter of Iffraaj (GB) out of Zendia (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and she shows speed, so she could be the first one to go.”

Zeplacetobe is owned in partnership by Ecurie Hunter Valley and Jean-Etienne Dubois, both of whom are involved in the ownership of Onesto. Dubois and his partners are also to be found behind another new recruit to the stable who has just arrived from Florida and the OBS March Sale.

The colt by Spendthrift Farm's first-season sire Omaha Beach is out of the unraced Two Sugars (Scat Daddy) and was bought by Hubert Guy for $285,000. This is a path that has been taken before with some success as, although Onesto owns a markedly European pedigree, he was bred by the American-based Diamond Creek Farm and, when he failed to reach his reserve when offered as a yearling at Tattersalls, he was exported to the States and sold at Ocala for $535,000 to Guy.

Chappet says of the Omaha Beach colt, “We're quite excited about him. He's a nice colt and looks quite an early type, quite fast.”

He adds, “We didn't use to pay close attention to the breeze-ups in America but then we got Onesto from Ocala so we've been taking another look.”

In regard to the breeze-up sector in general, Chappet continues, “We used to say that it wasn't the best school for French racing because we like the horses to be nice and relaxed going to the races but when you look at the stats, and they are very good stats, and with horses coming through that are showing such promise it has become a much bigger thing.

“When you buy a yearling you don't know how fast he's going to be able to go, so when they have been through this prep and have come through the breeze and have done a good time, then it is an advantage for a trainer because they have already done a good amount of work and shown that they can handle it. It may not always be the best preparation for French racing but at the same time I think there are also some advantages to the breeze-ups.”

Another juvenile colt who has taken the trainer's eye at this stage is one whose family has had significant updates in the last month courtesy of his dual Group 1-winning half-brother Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}).

“He's not named yet but he is by Invincible Spirit (Ire) out of Mondelice (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}),” Chappet says. “He was bought at Tattersalls and he's a nice sort who should run this summer. He already shows some promise.”

The colt represents a first horse in the Chappet yard for Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stable, who bought the colt through Ben McElroy for 220,000gns.

Craig Bernick is another American owner now with Chappet, and he has two horses in training there including the juvenile La Landonne (Ire), a No Nay Never half-sister to Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) owned in partnership with Haras d'Etreham. The same duo also owns Lady Glenham (Ire), a Zoffany (Ire) half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner and Widden Stud stallion Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

The team at Haras d'Etreham will no doubt be pleased to hear the feedback from the trainer on a quartet of colts in his stable by the farm's first-season sire City Light (Fr), a son of Siyouni (Fr).

“I have four colts by City Light which are nice and I am quite happy with them,” he says.

He also singles out a colt who has already been optimistically named Winning Formula (Ire). The son of Exceed And Excel (Aus) was bred by Shadwell and sold as a yearling for 350,000gns by Tally-Ho Stud, who bought him as a foal at Goffs for €130,000.

“He also came from Tattersalls and he is for the same owner as Good Guess, Hisaaki Saito,” Chappet notes. “He's another one I like for this summer. Mr Saito is a great supporter and he definitely deserves a nice horse.”

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Freshman Sire Donjuan Triumphant Off The Mark At Moulins

Haras de la Barbottiere resident Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Florian Guyader trainee Snow Ghost (Fr) (Donjuan Triumphant {Ire}–Snow Spirit {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}), an €8,000 Osarus purchase last August, graduated over five furlongs in Saturday's €23,000 Prix de Gennetines at Moulins.

Handily placed behind the leaders after an alert getaway in this second start, the 24-1 outsider quickened smartly to challenge inside the final furlong and was ridden out to deny stablemate Gotta Skedaddle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) by a short head.

1st-Moulins, €23,000, Mdn, 4-15, 2yo, 5fT, 1:01.05, sf.
SNOW GHOST (FR) (c, 2, Donjuan Triumphant {Ire}–Snow Spirit {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}), a Mar. 26 debut seventh over this trip at La Teste in his only prior start, was handily placed behind the leaders after an alert getaway in this straight dash. Shaken up with 350 metres remaining, the 24-1 outsider quickened smartly to challenge inside the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to deny stablemate Gotta Skedaddle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) by a short head in a bobbing finish, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Dream Ahead). Snow Ghost is the latest of seven reported foals and second scorer produced by a multiple-winning half to dual MGSW G1 Gran Criterium third Pearl Flute (Ire) (Piccolo {GB}), Listed Prix Solitude victrix Secret Pursuit (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and G3 Prix Texanita second Milord's Song (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The January-foaled bay's second dam, G3 Stuten-Meile winner Secret Melody (Fr) (Inchinor {GB}), is a granddaughter of MGSW G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Secret Form (GB) (Formidable). Sales history: €8,000 Ylg '22 OSAAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €11,500. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-SCEA Barbottiere (FR); T-Florian Guyader.

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