Newmill begins for Dullea

Former Champion Chaser Newmill has his first start for James Dullea when he contests the Joe Rea Memorial Hurdle at Downpatrick (subject to a morning inspection) tomorrow.

Dullea, a former amateur rider and now with a licence to train since the summer, said: "I have Newmill since the end of the summer, I have the licence since around the same time but I'm training point-to-pointers for a couple of years.

"I used to ride a bit too, a first cousin of mine Joe is still riding and plenty of people get mixed-up between the two of us. He actually rode a winner for us yesterday in the point-to-points, Mayo Calling at Ballindenisk.

"That was the horse's third win since last January.

"The last time we saw Newmill on the track he appeared to retain plenty of ability and I hope he retains some of it still. If he does he'd have to have a chance tomorrow, he is in serious order. He is short fitness-wise, we got held up with the bad weather - very badly with him actually - some of the others were fine.

"I am a little bit worried about his fitness but it is a nice place to start off, he is getting weight off some of the others and it'll tell us where we are for the rest of the season.

"He is going thirteen in the New Year. For that reason you'd be a bit worried about him first run back - does he still has that spark - at home he shows it, you just don't ever know until they get to the track. He has gone well fresh before but we got held up bad with him, he is in good form but he'll improve a lot for the run and as I said we'll know what direction we're going for the season after tomorrow.

"I train a few for Mrs Hayes. We have four in for the track and about ten for the point-to-points. We'd be hoping that some of the point-to-pointers might go on to the track.

"Mayo Calling, we'd be hoping would be able to win a hunter chase. He might go to Limerick at Christmas, that's often a hot race but he might be ready for it."

Eddie Power rides Newmill tomorrow and he will face seven opponents. Wee Giant, the long absent pair of Ebony Shades and Heavenly Blues and Henro Boy are among his rivals.