Journey to Naas on Saturday for de Bromhead's hurdler

Full Time Score was another winner for Henry de Bromhead at Fairyhouse yesterday as his horses slowly show signs of turning the corner after a tricky mid-winter period during which they weren’t quite firing on all cylinders.

Honeysuckle’s third Irish Champion Hurdle on Sunday and Gold Cup winner Minella Indo’s second in the Irish equivalent the previous day made the Dublin Racing Festival a satisfactory occasion for the Knockeen handler and he intends running a couple of his better novice hurdlers this weekend.

The unbeaten Journey With Me, very impressive when beating Minella Crooner (third in a Grade 1 on Saturday) and Kilcruit at Leopardstown over Christmas, is one nine horses declared to run in the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas on Saturday.

The Mahler gelding is prominent in ante-post lists for both the Ballymore and Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

“Journey With Me is in the 2m3f hurdle in Naas on Saturday. It looks competitive and we’ll see how we get on there.”

Largy Debut, who like Full Time Score carries the colours of Chris Jones, turned over the long odds-on Kilcruit to win on hurdling debut at Cork in early December. He subsequently disappointed, after being sent off favourite, at Leopardstown over Christmas when pulled up in a Grade One won by Mighty Potter.

“Largy Debut is entered at Punchestown on Sunday (in a Listed novice hurdle),” said de Bromhead. “He went violently right the whole way in Leopardstown.

“His form is obviously rock solid from Cork so we said we’d go back right-handed and probably try a hood to see if that helps him.

“He’d never given us any sign of it before and hopefully he’ll get back on track.”

Envoi Allen was one that bypassed Leopardstown last weekend after gaining his sixth Grade One victory at that track over Christmas when he got the better of Battleoverdoyen in a small-field contest with only two finishers.

“Envoi Allen seems in good form and we were always going straight to Cheltenham with him after Christmas.

“He’s in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair and we’ll see nearer the time."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee