Freewheelin Dylan is on target to make his imminent return to the point-to-point fields, as he features among the 136 horses to have received a hunter certificate this week.
The Curtain Time gelding won a brace of point-to-points before adding a Listowel hunter chase to his early career haul back in 2017 before he progressed to the track, ultimately becoming the longest-priced winner in the history of the Irish Grand National when triumphing in 2021.
Dermot McLoughlin’s bay went on to finish a creditable seventh in the following year’s Aintree equivalent, but has been without a win since that career highlight.
Now an 11-year-old, he is reportedly being aimed at the non-graded winners open in Tinahely on Sunday week, October 15th, with his Ratoath trainer telling IrishRacing.com that the aim this season is to send him hunter chasing.
Champagne Platinum, a horse that has contested the last two Irish National’s is also set for a switch the point-to-point/hunter chase ranks, with Enda Bolger getting a hunter certificate for the former Grand National Trial runner-up.
Lifetime Ambition was placed in last season’s John Durkan Memorial Chase, and the eight-year-old also features on this week’s list having joined Pat Doyle, who send out the impressive Brave Fortune to win the opening four-year-old maiden of the new season at Castletown-Geoghegan, for the same owners Linda Mulcahy and Mary Wolridge.
Their son of Kapgarde had been quietly fancied for last season’s Aintree Grand National only to be taken out of the race in dramatic fashion by a loose horse at Valentines.
With a track rating of 152, he is one of the highest rated horses to make the switch to the point-to-point / hunter chase division this season, with the 144-rated Ramillies set to join him.
The grey has contested the last three Cheltenham festivals for Willie Mullins but is now under the care of David Christie, who this week has also hunter certed his Bold Enough, who last season just came up short of champion pointer title honours in spite of winning eight race within a three-month window.
One returning champion is La Feline, and Sam Curling’s eight-year-old will bid to win the champion mares crown for a third consecutive year, whilst John Walsh’s Ladies Cup and La Touche hero Singing Banjo also features among this week’s hunter certificates having not run since finishing a close second in the PP Hogan at Punchestown in February.
