Hogan ready to Make A Challenge in new season

Denis Hogan suffered a hammer blow when top-class sprinter Sceptical was fatally injured on the gallops in August last year, but the trainer has high hopes for his other speedsters in the upcoming campaign.

“We have a couple of nice sprinters for this year," Hogan said.

“Make A Challenge will run in the Cork Stakes, a Listed race down there at Easter. We need to try and get him out in April and May before the ground gets too quick."

The son of Invincible Spirit has won 10 times in his career including five at Listed level.

Hogan added: “Grammata is an exciting one and she could be going for similar races. She’s a nice filly for Lady O’Reilly who has done really well over the winter.

“Lady Princess won a Listed race last year and is another exciting three-year-old. She’s also done well over the winter and could be another classy sprinter.”

With the new Irish Flat season just under three weeks away, Hogan is itching to get started with his increased numbers.

“It’s an exciting time of the year as we are starting to up the gears and there is a few showing they have improved and a few new ones," he said.

“We are off to the Curragh with a bunch this week a few days and it will be interesting. We will know a bit more this time next week.

“We have a bigger team and a nice team of staff and owners to go with it. We have about 75 horses and about 10 two-year-olds at the minute. We still have the breeze up sales to come yet so hopefully a few more will swing our way after that.”