Andre goes jumping Andrew Kinsella, predominantly a flat trainer, but a man who saddled his first winner with a hurdler (Max Almighty at Naas in February 2007), plans to have another crack at the winter game, with Andre Mon Ami. This son of Peintre Celebre won four on the flat in 2009 in the Her Diamond Necklace Limited silks but he could have his attention switched to action over flights in the Littleton (C&G) Maiden Hurdle at Thurles on Thursday. Kinsella commented of the 93-rated performer: "He is in top form, he took to it naturally and he is a cracking little horse over hurdles. "I can train jumpers if I have to. Basically I'm not a private trainer but I only seem to get horses for Diamond Necklace. They are not interested in jump horses, it's not their thing. "Anyone that seemed to have any interest in buying Andre Mon Ami, looked on him as a prospective hurdler and in fairness he sort of stuck out for it. So we tried him at the game and he took to it straight away. "I never planned to be a flat trainer, it just panned out that way for me. I never planned to snub the National Hunt but it is far easier to keep flat horses sound. I'll train whatever comes to me. "Richard Frayne (Evening Rushour) and Her Diamond Necklace have been my only two owners really since I started and they just wanted flat horses. "We built new gallops last year which unfortunately turned out to be at the wrong time. "Andre Mon Ami is for sale as you can only take the like of him so far on the flat with the handicapper. If a horse like him does happen to stay the trip and take to hurdles, they should be sold on and let someone else have a little bit more fun out of them. "He got bored on the flat where he always held a bit back. As soon as he took to the hurdles we've seen a whole new horse. He is on the bridle, keen, looking forward, he loves the hurdling. "If the ground were bottomless he wouldn't run but even on soft to heavy we might take a chance on running him."
