Donnelly Dark Horses to Follow: 'If we can keep him right he could go far' With two Cheltenham Gold Cups and a Champion Hurdle already on their CV, owners Joe and Marie Donnelly have become a powerhouse operation in the world of jumps racing. The Donnelly colours - the eye-catching yellow and black chequered silks — are instantly recognisable and they house some top stars with leading trainers like Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson on both sides of the Irish Sea. They were dealt a major blow this season as their top mile hurdler State Man suffered an injury at home that ended his campaign before it began. The likes of Sir Gino, Lulamba and Anzadam are still promising to be major players for the Donnelly's in the months to come and, here, we are looking to pick out some lesser lights that may shine brightly in those yellow and black chequered silks this season. Kitzbuhel The Willie Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles last season at Gowran Park (2m, soft) and ran respectably afterwards at Aintree and Sandown. The French buy made just seven starts over timber and showed himself adept on both good and soft ground over a variety of trips. He made a winning chase debut at Punchestown in November over 2m3f, beating stablemate Kaid D'authie in a beginners' contest on testing ground. That was a very pleasing start, in a race Mullins has won recently with Gaelic Warrior and Ballyburn. The Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick over the festive period could be next. Fou De Toi French import Fou De Toi has joined the ranks at Closutton. The son of Motivator had just one start in his native land for Sourdeau De Beauregard, finishing third in the Pouilly Juvenile Hurdle at Auteuil over just shy of two miles on testing ground in May 2024. We didn't get to see him last season but he's been mentioned in recent dispatches from the champion trainer as one to look out for. Mullins told a Racing Post stable tour: "Now this is one I like. We didn't get a straight run with him last season, but he's back in work now and if we can keep him right he could go far. He's very nice." Macho Man Another to get a favourable mention from the champion trainer of Britain and Ireland was Macho Man. The Ivanhowe gelding scored on his only French outing for Gabriel Leenders at Auteuil as recently as October, landing a 2m2f soft-ground contest for three-year-olds unraced over obstacles. That 14-runner contest was decent on paper and valuable — he pocketed €36,540 for the win — and Macho Man defied a starting price of 16/1, jumping to lead at the final flight and then powering away from his rivals for a five-length success. He has been in-situ at Closutton since that win and the Cheltenham Festival is the long term target this season. Mullins has suggested it will be the New Year before he is spotted on the course but adds: "I'd say he's very smart." The Triumph Hurdle could be the ultimate aim come the spring, a contest Mullins has won in each of the last four seasons with the likes of Vauban, Lossiemouth, Majborough and Poniros. The Donnellys were cruelly denied a run with Sir Gino in 2024 as Henderson's stable were under a cloud at the time, while back in March, they looked set to collect with Lulamba after he mastered the favourite East India Dock coming up the hill only for 100/1 chance Poniros to spring a shock.
