Keith Donoghue’s William Hill blog: Hello Neighbour the best juvenile we have

Newly signed William Hill ambassador Keith Donoghue talks through his rides on two top-class days of racing from Leopardstown.

First and foremost, Merry Christmas to everyone, but before looking ahead to what promises to be a packed festive period it was great to get the new partnership with William Hill off to a flyer at Cheltenham earlier this month on Stumptown. He gave me a great feeling after the last. As everyone saw I still had plenty left late on and I was just able to steer him through the gaps when they came.

You would be hoping after that spin over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham that he should be hard to beat going back there in March. I would say he would also be one for the Grand National now, but whether he would be well enough handicapped for a race like that it is hard to know. It is a good feeling to know he is a live Cheltenham Festival contender and one for the Grand National.

Back to now and I’ll just be riding out on Christmas Day and trying not to eat too much before jumping back in the sauna again. There will be no Christmas lunch for me, but if that means getting a couple of winners then it will be worth it.

Leopardstown, Thursday

Begorra Man is first up for me on Boxing Day in the two-mile maiden hurdle (12:00pm), but it will be a tough race to start off in. He is a nice horse that has gone well at home, however, he is still a bit green, and I think he will come on a lot from the experience. He is a good jumper, and he has had a schooling race as well, but he could be one to watch if he goes back to a bumper afterwards.

Next up I ride Next Stop Paris in the other maiden hurdle (12:35pm) on the card. This is only his second start since coming back from injury and we are just trying to get another clear round with him. Hopefully he will come home safe and sound and get qualified for some handicaps looking beyond this.

One of the most exciting horses I ride on the card is Hello Neighbour in the Grade Two juvenile hurdle (1:10pm). He is rated 96 on the flat, but it will be a big enough ask going straight into a Grade Two against horses that have experience, but he has schooled well at home and has had a schooling race as well. We are looking forward to seeing where he fits in with everything. We feel this is worth a shot as he can drop back into a maiden if this doesn’t work out. He does have a bit of toe about him, but I would say he would be a stayer in time. I’d say he is the best juvenile we have got at home. He would be a level above Total Look who ran well at Cheltenham the other day.

Addragoole runs in the two-mile handicap hurdle (1:45pm), he has a touch of seconditis as he has finished second five times, but he is not ungenuine he has just run into a better one each time. This is his first handicap, but he is harshly enough treated off 123 as we hoped he would be a little bit less. I think switching to a handicap will suit him and he should have a good chance. He will get further in time, provided he learns to settle properly.

Stellar Story is a great ride to pick up in the Grade One novices’ chase (2:20pm). It wasn’t a true run race the last day he won the Grade Two at Punchestown. Everyone can see how slow they went last time, and you can upgrade the victory. He looks like a real stayer, and you would like to think he would have a good chance here. He is a good ride to get, and it is great to be wearing the Gigginstown House Stud colours again. I’d say he is my best chance on the card.

In the penultimate race (2:55pm), I ride King Of Prs. I think he should have a good chance as he is a very consistent horse, and he always seems to run his race. The only worry would probably be the ground as he would probably want it a bit slower. Although it is a competitive race he stands a fair chance. I think there are a few horses in the race that are well handicapped so he will have to improve from the last day to win.

Leopardstown, Friday

On Friday, I start with a ride on Backtonormal in the beginner’s chase (12:35pm). This will be his third run over fences. He jumped well the first day over them at Navan, but he didn’t jump so well over them back there next time out. Hopefully he can jump a lot better this time, but it is a good race. However, if he gets his jumping together, he could go well.

Visionarian goes in the two-mile-and-one-furlong Grade One chase (1:10pm) on the card. We were hoping it would cut up a little bit more, and he is up against it, but you never know what will happen. He ran well at 25-1 in a Grade One behind Saint Roi at the meeting before. The ground will be quick enough for a few of them and hopefully he could sneak into a bit of prizemoney.

I’ve got a rare ride for Jim Bolger aboard Eastern Legend in the Grade One novices’ hurdle (1:45pm). He is still a maiden, but he has run plenty of good races behind some smart horses. He is probably going to be up against it, but we are hoping he might sneak into third or fourth.

My penultimate ride on the day (2:20pm) looks to be my best on Pinot Gris. He won a four-runner race the last day although it probably wasn’t that strong a race. He got a good hike in the weights for that which wasn’t ideal given the race he won. This is his first time in an open handicap, but hopefully he will run well, and the blinkers seemed to help him the last day as he is a very laid-back horse.

Hartur d’Arc is making a quick turnaround in the Listed handicap chase (3:00pm) having unshipped Conor Stone-Walsh at Ascot on Saturday. This is one of the most competitive handicap chase prizes of the season so he will have to jump a lot better than he did at Ascot. He wouldn’t be without a chance if he came back to his best form as we know that the ground will suit him. I’m not sure if he is good enough to win, but he could run into a place.