Invictus begins at Folkestone Invictus, one of two big money graduates of Andy and Willie Slattery's Meadowview Stables in Killenaule County Tipperary, at last April's Brightwells Cheltenham National Hunt Sale, makes his debut cross-channel today for the in-form Alan King stable at Folkestone. The owners, Mr & Mrs Kelvin Hughes bought the son of Flemensfirth for 162,000 guineas as a replacement for Minella Four Star who they previously had in training at Barbury Castle. He won his point-to-point at Horse & Jockey where he beat a number of subsequent winners. On the same day Slattery's Chablais won and he was also bought by the Kelvin Hughes' (for 260,000 guineas) and he is in training with Nicky Henderson. Invictus begins today in a two and a half mile novices' hurdle at 1.25 under Wayne Hutchinson. This has the appearance of a fair heat with Doctor Foxtrot, Kind Of Easy (a half-brother to Glencove Marina), Oddjob, Sherwani Wolf and Water Garden in opposition. There is plenty of interest elsewhere too on the Folkestone card which has passed an inspection - Paddy Wilmott's Perfect Reward is a big contender in the opener at 12.25, Tony McCoy rides the 2009 County Hurdle winner American Trilogy in the second, the ex-Gordon Elliott trained Forever Emo goes for Jonjo O’Neill and Richie McLernon in the 2.00 and the Cloney’s well-bred mare Dream Function has a major chance in the bumper at 3.40. The same Cloney brothers own another well-bred mare in the shape of the Colin Bowe-trained Miss Publican. Meanwhile Ballyoliver (an 85,000 guineas buy) looks very interesting now that the money has come for him in the 3.10. He finished fourth on his debut before winning under Derek O'Connor at Castletown-Geoghegan when racing in the colours of Wilson Dennison and under the care of Colin McKeever.
