Break My Soul

Noted before after she finished second in a handicap hurdle at Newbury just after Christmas on her final run for Nicky Henderson, Break My Soul is worthy of note again now on the back of the performance that she put up on her first run for Ian Donoghue to finish second behind the talented Kitzbuhel in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday. Strong in the market in the morning, but weak in the pre-race market, she was held up through the early part of the race by Donagh Meyler. She has been a keen-going mare in the past, but she settled nicely here for her rider in rear, perhaps appreciating the switch to more patient tactics, with her trainer adding a tongue-tie to the hood that she wore at Newbury last time for the first time. Fourth into the home straight, she moved up nicely among horses and moved between the stable companions Kitzbuhel and Sir Gerhard on the run to the final flight. In the end, Kitzbuhel wasn't for catching, but she stuck to her task well to get to within less than three lengths of them, and she pulled nicely away from Sir Gerhard, who is a classy horse and who had proven his wellbeing with an impressive victory in the Up The Yard Challenge at Punchestown the previous week.

They didn't go a great pace here, the winner's finishing speed was 117% of overall speed, which wouldn't have been ideal for Break My Soul, a keen-going mare who was ridden in behind early on. Also, Kitzbuhel could be very good, he is two for two now for Willie Mullins, and the champion trainer was talking about the Aintree Hurdle now as a potential target. Break My Soul looks like an astute acquisition for Ian Donoghue. She will be of interest wherever she goes next, with interest heightened if she goes for a big handicap hurdle in which a good pace is likely.

Gowran Park, 15^th February 2025