City Island Set To Go Chasing Next Season

City Island Set To Go Chasing Next Season

Ballymore winner City Island is all set for a new career over fences that will commence in the forthcoming autumn, according to his trainer Martin Brassil.

The six-year-old son of Court Cave claimed his first Group One success at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, when fending off the challenge of Nicky Henderson's Champ in the two-and-a-half-mile Ladies Day opener.

The form was boosted when the seven-year-old owned by JP McManus [Champ] stepped up to three miles in style in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree, with a game victory over Warren Greatrex's Emitom.

City Island meanwhile lost his unbeaten record over hurdles in the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, when down the field in a well beaten sixth place behind Reserve Tank.

However, that did not take the gloss of a sparkling season, which features three other victories [including one DQ], and his trainer believes a campaign novice chasing will certainly bring out more of his stable star.

(Credit: AtTheRaces) Speaking after saddling a winner at Sligo on Sunday, Brassil said: "City Island is enjoying his summer break and will be back in a few weeks.

"I schooled him over fences before he went out, and we were happy enough with what we saw.

"I'd say, more than likely, he will go chasing," he said.

City Island is still on his summer break, but is due to return to training in the coming weeks.

National Hunt news is in the spotlight with the fast-approaching Killarney Festival taking place this week.

Killarney's July meeting acts as a perfect springboard for returning horses looking to consolidate their claims ahead of the mixed-category Galway Festival - which kicks off at the end of the month and carries into August.

The Grade B BoyleSports Handicap Chase offers the richest prize on the opening session of Killarney's July festival on Monday, where the likes of Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead are both represented.

The five day festival concludes on Friday 19th July.