Image © Healy Racing
Sam Curling is eyeing-up some big-race targets with his stable star Angels Dawn, with his runners having hit top gear in recent weeks
The Tipperary handler finished last season on a total of 13 winners, but is already on target to surpass that number this season, having already sent out nine winners in the pointing fields. With around 70 horses in training at his Skehanagh Stables, he also has a lovely bunch of young horses to look forward to.
“We have been a bit slow to get going this year but the horses seem to be hitting form the last few weeks. I’m very happy with the way the horses are running,” he said.
Curling’s former Cheltenham festival winner Angel’s Dawn made a winning points debut at Boulta when making all of the running to easily account for Little Token in what was a match contest.
Curling reported that the nine-year-old mare came out of her race well.
“It wasn’t much of a contest, but on ratings she was a long way clear, it was great to get her head back in front and it will do her confidence the world of good.”
Angel’s Dawn will now head straight to Down Royal for the Metcollect Oil Recycling Hunter Chase on St. Stephen’s Day and will be aimed at some of the bigger hunter chases thereafter, with various possibilities such as the Joseph O’Reilly at Fairyhouse, Punchestown and of course, Cheltenham.
“It is unlikely she will run in another point-to-point, but I won’t totally rule out a run in points between Down Royal and Cheltenham.”
Angels Dawn - Kim Muir Chase 2023#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/igEF5k9vJL
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) August 24, 2023
Meanwhile, the defending champion La Feline, who is the only horse to be crowned champion mare for three consecutive years, made a winning return to action at Lisronagh at the beginning of November, and she holds an entry in the novice riders open at Ballycrystal this Sunday.
“I’m delighted with La Feline, it was the third year in a row that she won that race at Lisronagh, she loves it around there and Derek gave her a great ride again.
“She lost her way a bit last season after finishing second to Pat Doyle’s horse, Lifetime Ambition, at Belharbour, but she seems to have come back in much better form this year.
“She might run at Ballycrystal on Sunday, if not we will wait for Carrigtwohill in January.
“La Feline will stick to point-to-points, she will tip away in opens, similar to last year and will probably have four or five runs between now and the end of the season.”
With two of the top nine-year-old open mares under Curling’s care, he reports that he doesn’t follow any specific training approach.
“All the open horses do plenty at home, we have the same routine for them all and it seems to suit the older horses. They get plenty of time turned out in the field, but I don’t really train them any differently to the rest.”
Curling is looking forward to a busy weekend with no fewer than 15 entries across meetings at Boulta, Ballycrystal and Tattersalls.
