The Big Dog (left) beating Screaming Colours at Punchestown© Photo Healy Racing
Peter Fahey has had a big red circle marked around Chepstow on December 27 since last spring and reports The Big Dog in top form ahead of his big target in the Coral Welsh Grand National next Monday.
The giant eight-year-old son of Mahler showed a real stamina test is right up his street when landing the Grand National Trial at Punchestown back in February and the Monasterevin trainer feels his charge is coming to the boil after two outings this term.
“His last bit of work was very good and we’re looking forward to it. This race has been the plan since the end of last season,” said Fahey.
“The two boys that own him, Colin and Damien (Kelly), know the race programme as well as anyone and they picked this race out. He stays really well and touch wood his jumping is good.
“Things went a little bit wrong on his last hurdle race at Navan when he missed the start and was too far out if his ground. It just didn’t happen.
“His last bit of work was as good as he’s very done. I’m thrilled with him.”
Regular partner Jamie Codd misses out through suspension and the ride now goes to Johnny Burke.
Fahey’s promising mare Royal Kahala has a couple of possible engagements at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival with ground conditions likely to have a big bearing on final plans.
She won three times at Fairyhouse (bumper/2 hurdles) last season and made an eye-catching return when finishing strongly to divide Dysart Diamond and Western Victory in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown last month.
“She did a good piece of strong work last week and the ground will decide where she goes,” said Fahey.
“She has the option of going up to three miles for the Grade 1 (Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle) if the ground isn’t soft enough.
“If the ground is soft she will run in the (Grade 3 Advent Surety Irish EBF) Mares Hurdle in Leopardstown.”
The Paul Leech-owned pair Freedom To Dream and Surprise Package could also be part of Fahey’s Christmas team.
Freedom To Dream beat all bar Appreciate It in a bumper at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting back in 2019 but was then off the course for nearly two years until returning at Punchestown last month to make a winning start over hurdles.
“Freedom To Dream could go for the Grade 2 (Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle) over 2m7f at Limerick.
“He’s come on a good bit from his first run after two years off. He seems to be improving away at home the whole time.”
Surprise Package just faded on the run-in at Navan last Saturday in the valuable Tara Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f and could make a quick reappearance down in trip.
“He looked a winner up the straight at Navan and at the second last I thought it was a question of how far but the track just stretched his stamina. He has plenty of boot at home and will be fine when he drops back a little bit in trip.”
The Big Doyen looked out of the top drawer when following up his debut bumper win at Roscommon with an impressive demolition of four rivals including the well-regarded Cool Survivor at Punchestown last month.
Fahey’s initial reaction after that victory was the four-year-old be put away for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and that remains the plan.
“The Big Doyen will probably go straight to Cheltenham. He seems to be in good form and is cantering away at home.
“We’ll see where we are in about three weeks’ time and whether we go to the Dublin Racing Festival or not but at the moment our plan is to go straight to Cheltenham.”
