Doyle hoping Kauto can shine

Kauto Grand Mogol could give trainer Liz Doyle a tonic after her stable star Le Vent D'Antan suffered a fatal fall at Leopardstown with a big run in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Tuesday.

The County Wexford believes the seven-year-old has the ability to lift the Grade Three prize if he consents to put his best foot forward.

Kauto Grand Mogol was a smart bumper performer last term and has won two of his three starts over jumps, the only blot coming when he was fourth to Free Expression in the Grade Two Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November.

Doyle has put a line through that run and Kauto Grand Mogol got back to winning ways with a facile victory at Thurles in December.

"He didn't travel very well or jump very well in Navan and I'm hoping we can disregard that run," she said.

"We finished quite close to Measureofmydreams in a bumper at Fairyhouse last year. The form is there, he's got every chance, he just needs to put it together.

"I think he's good enough to win it. If he puts it all together and jumps well he's got every chance, so we're hopeful of a very good run."

Shantou Flyer was second in that Navan contest and was then fourth in another Grade Two there behind no More Heroes.

Trainer Colin Bowe reports the five-year-old to be fresh and ready to go to the well again.

"He's been having a nice little break between his races. The drying ground will help him," said the County Wexford handler.

"He's been in good company. He's fresh now and if he improves a little bit he'll be up for a nice run."

Paul Nolan sees Fine Article as next season's chaser but wants to give the six-year-old much-needed racing experience.

Fine Article was fourth in last season's champion bumper at Punchestown and opened his account over hurdles at Limerick at the third attempt over Christmas.

"We're looking forward to going chasing with him and anything he does over hurdles will be a bonus," said Nolan.

"We're not going over fences until next year. We're just getting him experienced racing. His first two runs over hurdles his jumping let him down at times.

"He's a big horse and I'm hoping there will be more soft in the ground than yielding.

"It's a good competitive race and I'm hoping he runs respectably and that his jumping improves."

Fletcher is also rated a chasing prospect of the future but Eddie Harty feels he deserves his chance after getting off the mark in good style at Leopardstown three weeks ago.

"He won his maiden well and this is very much a shot in the dark. On form he was entitled to win at Leopardstown. It wasn't the strongest maiden ever run, but he won it very well," said Harty.

"To us he looks like a chasing prospect next year and the owner sportingly said why not try him at a nice grade and he see how he fares.

"We hope he'll run well but he's a difficult horse for trainers as he shows nothing at home. On his maiden win he's worth taking a chance. While it looks a tall order we're hopeful of a good run."

Measureofmydreams has won two of his three races over hurdles and is one of two runners from the Willie Mullins stable along with Thurles maiden hurdle scorer Roi Des Francs in a field of nine.