Foley discusses future plans Pat Foley discussed plans for some of his leading lights, while also confirming his intention to continue mixing his operation between the Flat and jumps. Since taking over from his legendary late father Tom just last year, the Bagenalstown handler has saddled five winners and will be hoping to add to that tally in the coming months. "We have between 20 to 25 riding out. There is a good mix over the last while and we'd be hoping to have more Flat ones again next season," the former amateur rider revealed. "Luckily enough we had some new owners this year. We went to the Derby sale and bought a couple as well. We have a nice few to look forward to for the jumps season. "I think you have to mix it between the jumps and the Flat, especially when you are a small yard. Otherwise, you are cutting out a big part of the year. We are lucky to be busy all year round and that's how we’d like it to stay. "We have the facilities to do both and we are lucky to have the use of Jim Bolger's gallop as well." Yermanthere provided Foley with his first success at Cork in September of last year and while he hasn't managed to win since, he continues to perform with credit and was eighth of 20 in the 'Bold Lad' Sprint Handicap at the Curragh yesterday afternoon. "We were very happy with him. We knew going to the Curragh on Champions Weekend that we weren't going to get an easy race. "He was only beaten a few lengths and runs his race every time. Seven furlongs probably is his trip and he is better on a straight track. "There is a race for him in the Curragh again in two weeks but he will probably be top-weight. That's an option for him. "There is probably a premier handicap in him and he deserves to win one. He rarely runs a bad race." Foley saddled Brianna Lily to win a bumper on her second start at Clonmel in June and this daughter of Shirocco may now head for a winners contest. He said: "We left her off for a month during the summer. She wouldn't want good to firm, she wants a bit of a cut in it. "She is back in now a couple of weeks. I wouldn't mind trying her in a winners bumper if it came up, especially a mares one, but if not she is well able to jump. "If she handles the soft to heavy we will keep her in for the winter. She is not overly big so it remains to be seen if she will handle the real winter ground. "I have no immediate plan for her, she is probably still a month off a run, but she is a nice one to look forward to, especially for the syndicate." Rated 137 over fences, Rebel Gold is likely to return to action over the smaller obstacles in the coming weeks, with Foley explaining: "He is back in and I'd be hoping to run him towards the end of the month or the start of October. "He was back in a bit earlier than the others. I might start him over hurdles like I did last year. He is rated a good bit lower over hurdles. "I wouldn't mind giving him a shot at the Dan Moore. We'd be dropping him back in trip rather than stepping him up. "He was second in the Tim Duggan last year so that's a race we will be looking at again. "He is a high-class chaser and you'd be hoping that he can pick up one of the big handicaps."
