Marnane duo set for break before Dubai Elleval and Jamesie are enjoying a well-deserved breather before embarking on their annual trip to Dubai, where they were both successful last winter. The pair ended their domestic campaigns with typically creditable efforts, albeit in defeat, in Group Three races on Irish Champions Weekend. Elleval had to play second fiddle behind the exciting Free Eagle in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday while Jamesie was fifth to Stepper Point in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. "In fairness, Elleval bumped into a spectacular horse, but he ran a good solid race and was a good solid second. That's his level," said the County Tipperary handler. "He's in good nick and he's going to have a break now and all roads lead back to Dubai. "He likes the place, there is plenty of racing for him out there. They put him up 1lb to 107 after that run. We'd like to think that he'd be very competitive off that mark in Dubai, even in the handicaps. "Jamesie ran very well, but I think we paid the penalty for taking on Stepper Point early on. Jamesie jumped smart, tried to chase him a little bit and it probably cost him place money doing that. "However, he's been on the go a long time and is having a well-deserved break. He's been busy and he's an ideal horse for Dubai. "We'll bring him back for the second part of the Carnival. There are a few sprints for him there, but our main aim would be to get him into Singapore - I'd love to see go six furlongs round the bend there, at the big meeting in May. "We'll give him a break now and ideally start him back February onwards in Dubai with a view to the race in Singapore."
