Monty's Star and Minella Indo to run at Tramore on New Year's Day

Local trainer Henry de Bromhead will run both Monty's Star and Minella Indo at Tramore's New Year's Day meeting.

Former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo won the race in 2023 while it will be a first trip to Tramore for talented novice chaser Monty's Star.

Speaking to Dave Keena, de Bromhead said Monty's Star will be his Gold Cup horse this year.

"We're aiming Monty's Star for the race. He had a good season last season and we've decided to go for the Gold Cup with him. Obviously his form is rock solid, so he's going to aim to start there. He was beaten in two Grade Ones. Fact Or File beat him at Cheltenham and then Jimmy Mangan's horse beat him at Punchestown, so his form is bang there. Look, we're hoping he's improved and he seems well."

de Bromhead said Minella Indo's win at Tramore in 2023 is a day he will never forget.

"Yeah, it really was. It meant a lot to us at the time for a number of reasons. Just, I suppose, he looked beaten and then the way he battled back, he knew what it meant, what the day meant. It was a day I won't forget. Great race to win. We love having runners at Tramore, and even better having winners."

Also among the field for the Grade 3 O'Driscoll's Chase at Tramore are the Willie Mullins-trained Embassy Gardens, Appreciate It, Classic Getaway and Capodanno.

Tom Gibney runs Bronn while the ten-runner field is completed by Gordon Elliott's Minella Crooner.

Here's the full field for Tramore on New Year's Day.