Lucinda Russell, a prominent Scottish horse trainer, provides insights into her plans for the 2024/25 National Hunt season. Highlighting her top horses like Ahoy Senor, primed for Betfair Chase, and Apple Away for major hurdles, Russell discusses strategies for both seasoned racers and new prospects like Big John Wayne and I Wish You. With goals set for various competitions, from the Aintree races to Cheltenham, Russell aims for a successful season blending experience and fresh talent across different racing categories.
Russell ran through all of her stars for the 2024/25 season
Get updates on Ahoy Senor, Apple Away, Primoz and many more
All quotes taken from AtTheRaces
Trainer Lucinda Russell (left) celebrates in the parade ring with Mighty Thunder after jockey Tom Scudamore wins the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase. (Getty)
Lucinda Russell Stable Tour 24/25
🌟 Stable Stars 🌟
➡️ Novice Hurdles
➡️ Older Hurdlers
➡️ Novice Chasers
➡️ Older Chasers
➡️ Bumper Horses
Ahead of the new National Hunt season, top Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell talks through his team for 2024/25 with AtTheRaces.
Here's the full Lucinda Russell stable tour. All quotes taken from AtTheRaces.
Lucinda Russell Stable Tour 2024/25
🌟 Stable Stars 🌟
Ahoy Senor
He is going to have a racecourse gallop and then goes to Aintree and then for the Betfair Chase at Haydock. He seems fine and he had a little bit of a sore last year that we think may have been affecting him, but we seem to have sorted that out.
Apple Away
She will go for a Mares’ over two and a half miles at Carlisle and then either the Coral Gold Cup or the Rehearsal Chase. She seems in good form, and we are pleased with everything she has done. We don’t think we had her at her best all the time, but I feel we understand her a bit better.
Primoz
He is a horse we really like, and he schooled over fences on Wednesday morning. We probably didn’t set him up that well for his races last season but two and a half miles over fences should be ideal and we just have to find the right races.
➡️ Novice Hurdles
Big John Wayne
He fell at the last in what looked a half decent novices’ hurdle at Newcastle, and he is a horse we are really looking forward too. He is by Shantou and won a point-to-point in Ireland. He is a three-mile chaser in the making and he might jump fences this season but he will run over hurdles to start with.
Derryhassen Paddy
He has an entry at Hexham on Saturday. He won his bumper, and we are pleased with the way he has been working.
Fox's Fancy
She is in a Hexham over the weekend and she is a half-sister to One For Arthur. She is a stayer in the making and we are looking forward to her.
Golden Point
She had a run at Perth in September, but she really wants three miles and soft ground.
I Wish You
He is a nice horse and another horse we bought in France as a two-year-old. He ran ever so well over hurdles and just got touched off by another one of our owners’ horses at Hexham. He is actually a chaser in the making.
Derek Fox riding Ahoy Senor clear the last to win The Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree. (Getty)
➡️ Older Hurdlers
Bois Guilbert
He ran over hurdles the other day and he might jump fences. He is only five, but we might send him novice chasing at some point.
Dollar Collar
She has put some good performances over hurdle last season, and she has schooled over fences. She is no electric just yet over fences, but she will school again, and she is one we are looking forward too.
Idem
He is a horse we think a lot of and possibly a little unlucky at Perth the other day. If it rides ok, he will go to Cheltenham for the Pertemps Qualifier in October.
Kingston James
He won over hurdles at Hexham the other day and did it better than I thought he would. He might step up to two and a half miles, but we were very pleased with him.
Rocheval
He could be an exciting prospect and if the ground is ok, he will run in that four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of October.
➡️ Novice Chasers
Cadell
He has his first run over fences the other day at Perth and his mid-season target would be the Edinburgh Grand National at Musselburgh.
Choose A Copper
We are very pleased with everything he has done, and he has schooled very well over fences. He is ready to run now, and he might run in a two and a half mile novices’ handicap chase at Hexham on Saturday.
De Legislator
He had a small injury last season, but he is back and working now. He is one horse we hold in high esteem.
El Elefante
She will have an entry at Worcester on Wednesday. She has schooled well over fences, and we are looking forward to sending her novice chasing.
Inox Allen
He schooled well over fences the other day and is ready to go novice chasing. He will run over fences as soon as we find a suitable race for him to run in.
Lady In The Park
She schooled over fences on Wednesday morning, and she has entries at Hexham and Ffos Las. We will probably go to Hexham, and I am very pleased with her.
Myretown
He is by the same sire at Ahoy Senor (Dylan Thomas) and he looks very much like Ahoy Senor. He won his hurdle race, and he came back from injury and looks a very fine prospect. He jumped fences on Wednesday morning and jumped very well.
Whistle Stop Tour
His form is very good, and he has jumped fences very well at home. He was going to run at Perth, but he cut himself and he will run in around three weeks’ time. He is an exciting prospect.
Maximillian (left) placing behind Apple Away in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle on Ladies Day during the second day of the Grand National Festival. (Getty)
➡️ Older Chasers
Ballydisco
He was second in a three and a half mile chase around Ffos Las and he will go for the long distance chases.
Bollingerandkrug
He does well around Kelso so he will keep at two miles and one around there. He sometimes gets a bit too high in the handicap but then he drops and gets his opportunities. He is a very good horse around Kelso.
Caithness
He just got beat at Hexham the other day and we were delighted with his run. We think he is capable of winning a nice two-mile chase.
Corrigeen Rock
He likes Kempton and he will run in the Coral Trophy in February. There is a good chase at Musselburgh and a good chase at Kempton for him and then he won’t run that often and we might even run him in the Galway Plate.
Inis Oirr
He will go to Sandown for the London National. That will be his next run, and he ran a decent race at Perth the other day.
Netywell
He has got to have very soft ground and is a horse who I believe has a good race in him on heavy ground. He will go to Newbury and Kempton and places like that.
Trapain Law
He was ready to run at Kelso, but we didn’t run him as the ground was a bit quick. He is owned by Ray Anderson who sponsors the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle, and he will go there and there is then a very good two and a half mile chase at Kelso for him.
Whatdeawant
He ran him over too short of a trip and I think he wants soft ground. I am very pleased with him and Willie Mullins trained him to finish third in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in 2022. If we can get somewhere near that then there is a good chase in him, and we might run him in the Rehearsal Chase. He will have a race before then.
Your Own Story
He is going to follow in the footsteps of One For Arthur and go for a three mile two furlong chase at Kelso. He will then go for the Becher Chase and then to Warwick for the Classic Chase. If he can get in the Grand National, then he will go for that and if he is a good as One For Arthur, I will buy you a drink!!
➡️ Bumper Horses
Hay Meadow
She won a bumper at Perth in September, and she may go to Cheltenham for a Listed race. She will then go over hurdles.
Hourman
He is one of our young horses that we like, and he was in pre-training with Tom Scudamore. He will go for junior bumpers, and we might set off at Aintree.
Let's Mingle
She is a filly by Walk In The Park and she will probably run in the mare’s race at Aintree at the end of October. It’s a mares’ bumper and the same race that Lady In The Park was placed in.
Linalene
He is another we bought as a two-year-old in France and we are very pleased with him. He will go to that three-year-old bumper at Aintree.
