Santa Rossa winning at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot McLoughlin is hoping to get smart bumper mare Santa Rossa out over hurdles in the next couple of weeks.
The daughter of Jeremy was a dual winner last season, including taking a Grade 2 event at the Dublin Racing festival.
She also finished third at Aintree before finishing her campaign when fifth to Colreevy in Grade 1 company at Punchestown.
McLoughlin is hoping she can take high order in mares novice hurdles this year and is looking forward to getting her back on the track.
“Santa Rossa will be ready to run in about ten days I'd say and we'll look for a maiden hurdle somewhere for her,” said the Ratoath handler.
“I thought there was going to be schooling races at Fairyhouse next week but they aren't having them now so I may just run her now.
“She's fairly straight and is in good nick. She has to run now as we're going to be in the middle of January getting her out. She was late coming back to us.
“She jumps well and the mares end of it seems to be a bit weak this season. She still has to go and do it though.”
Canardier proved a star for the yard last season in handicap hurdles. He was an unlucky loser on his chase debut at Navan this term but never figured at Leopardstown over Christmas when jumping poorly.
“He never jumped a fence and I was very disappointed with him. It's back to scratch with him now and I don't know what we'll do with him.
“I was very disappointed after what he had showed at Navan because he schooled well and did everything right at home.
“Maybe the ground was too quick for him and they went too quick for him. When he missed a fence early on Keith just said he wasn't enjoying it then and he schooled him around.”
McLoughlin also reported Captain Cj none-the-worse for his fall at Punchestown on New Year's eve.
The Westerner gelding had been placed three times over fences prior to his tumble.
“He's fine. He went out in the field the morning after and there is not a bother on him.
“It's one of those things. He just got a bit squeezed up and maybe a bit blinded.
“We'll go to Thurles with him now on Saturday week.”
