In-demand Philippart de Foy looking for notable jumps success

Kevin Philippart de Foy has been in the news of late ahead of his move to the famous Freemason Lodge Stables in Newmarket, yet he is hoping to land one of the biggest prizes of the summer jumps season at Market Rasen.

The Belgian has an intercontinental background given his mum was a trainer in France and he worked for John Oxx in Ireland, Criquette Head-Maarek in France, Christophe Clement in America and James Fanshawe in Newmarket.

While his future is going to be largely Flat-based as the principal trainer for Amo Racing at Sir Michael Stoute’s former yard, he has shown his versatility by winning three in a row with D Day Arvalenreeva, who heads for the Unibet Same Race Multi Summer Handicap Hurdle.

“She’s in very good shape, delighted with the filly. She’s done very little wrong since switching to handicaps,” said De Foy.

“This race has been a target for a long time and the faster (the ground) the better for her.

“Obviously she’s a course and distance winner, it’s a big step up in grade, but I couldn’t be happier with the way she’s going into the race.”

Olly Murphy’s Sir Galahad has an even better record, winning four out of four since joining from James Ferguson.

“He’s been trained for the race, he needed the extra run to qualify, but he’s in good form, looks progressive and he’s got an unusual profile,” said Murphy.

“He’s on an upward curve and is full of confidence. He’s taken to hurdles really well, he’s got confidence since taking a hurdle and with a bit of luck, he’ll run very well.”

Fergal O’Brien’s Castel Gandolfo won the race last year and got back to winning ways over course and distance last month.

“We went more or less the same route. I think he’s run in it the last four years so it was always a plan to run it,” said O’Brien.

“We ran him at Bangor and Johnny (Burke, jockey) said ‘he’s just a totally different horse going right-handed’, especially right-handed with a rail, so he said he feels much better at Market Rasen than he does anywhere else. Right-handed around Rasen does suit him.”

O’Brien also runs Oslo off bottom weight, the mount of Liam Harrison.

“Oslo is fine. I’d like him to take a step forward, he’s been running very well for us on the Flat, he got brought down at Bangor last year and I’m not sure if he’s got over that yet when it comes to jumping hurdles,” he said.

“We’d like to see him to finish off his races a bit better, and if he does, he could be a player as well.

“They are both good, they will try their best and fingers crossed.”