Ninetieth Minute on course for Hattons Grace Tom Taaffe will target a number of the feature races at the Leopardstown Festival meeting with the likes of Ninetieth Minute, Glenfinn Captain and Kings Advocate. The Straffan trainer was outlining plans at a press open day this morning. Ninetieth Minute, a three-time winner last season which included the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival as well as lowering the colours of Solwhit at Thurles, has a more immediate target in the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday. “Everything went to plan with him last season and I was thrilled with his reappearance at Navan earlier this month when he stayed on well behind Aitmatov. However he's rated 147 and needs to improve quite a bit again to be a Grade 1 horse,” said Taaffe. “He'll run in the Hattons Grace and we will see where he slots in after that. The woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle is certainly a target, and there are plenty of Grade 2 staying hurdles he could go for. He's also schooled well over fences.” Glenfinn Captain ran a bit free in the Clonmel Oil Chase last week and not surprisingly didn't get home. "The plan is to go now for the Hilly Way Chase at Cork and then on to the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas." The Paddy Power Chase is the target for Kings Advocate providing Taaffe can get a run into him beforehand. “He had muscle trouble last season but seems to be over that now. You need to get a run into a horse if you want to have a winning chance in the 'Paddy Power'. Otherwise he could head to Limerick at Christmas." Former Paddy Power Chase winner Cane Brake is hoping to take advantage of a lenient hurdle mark. “He's rated 30lb lower over hurdles and will probably be aimed at a three mile handicap at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The long-term aim is the Grand National, and he may not go back chasing until the Hennessy at Leopardstown."
