Wild Hunt (nearside) in winning action at Clonmel© Photo Healy Racing
Denis Hogan’s dual-purpose yard is firing on all cylinders at present and he’ll be hoping for further success at Cork this afternoon where the progressive Wild Hunt heads up a strong team of five runners for the Cloughjordan trainer.
Hogan has sent out seven winners already this month including an easy victory for Fox Leicester at Dundalk yesterday, and Wild Hunt has contributed handsomely to that total scoring decisively at both Clonmel and Down Royal.
The regally bred Dubawi gelding, a full-brother to both Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir and another Group 1 winner Wild Illusion, carries a 7lb penalty in this afternoon’s Con-Neigh’s Yard Handicap Hurdle but is still 3lb ‘well in’ having been put up 10lb in future handicaps.
The five-year-old’s owner James McAuley is a little concerned by the drying ground — now officially good to yielding, good in places — but delighted with the improvement shown by the gelding this year.
"We just have to check the ground and see how he is. If the ground is safe and he runs we'd be disappointed if he wasn't bang there,” said the Naul based owner/trainer.
"He is improving out of all recognition and he impressed Denis with the turn of foot he had (in Down Royal). It has just taken him a while to find his way over jumps.”
McAuley’s Hilltop Stables has enjoyed great success at Dundalk this winter and he trained Wild Hunt for a while last summer.
However, he’s also had a successful association with Hogan for a number of years, notably with ill-fated sprinter Sceptical, and explained the decision to move the gelding back to the Tipperary trainer.
"He needed a good, deep gallop (in Hogan's) to get him ready. My gallop was a bit quick, he handles it well but I would have been dizzy going around trying to get him fit.
"We'll always have one or two with Denis."
Hogan will also be hoping for another prominent showing from Mankhool in the Blackwater (QR) Handicap Hurdle (4.55pm) having won a Thurles maiden in good style just a fortnight ago.
The Hogan quintet this afternoon also includes Ghumama in the opening Follow @Corkracecourse Fillies Maiden Hurdle at 2.20pm, Zoffanien in the Way To Paris At Coolagown Stud Hurdle (2.55) while Vermilion Cliffs carries top-weight in the Fermoy Handicap Hurdle (3.55).
(Quotes from Michael Graham)
