Brion hoping Light can shine in Leopardstown Grade One

Nick Robson
January 31, 2021 10:15 am

American runner to tackle the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle.

French Light will add a touch of international flavour to the Dublin Racing Festival when he runs in the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle on February 7.

Trained by American Keri Brion, he is one of a handful of horses currently in Ireland with the former assistant to US Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

Second on his Irish debut at Clonmel when just running out of gas close home, Brion is hoping a quicker surface will see him in an even better light.

“He ran really well, but just got very tired in the last furlong. That ground would have been completely unsuitable for him,” she said.

“To be fair, two and a half miles in that ground was stretching him. We think he’s very good.

“We’re here for a short time, so we’ve decided we’re going to see what he can do and take him to Leopardstown and the Grade One novice.

“It should be good enough ground that day, so we’ll give him a shot against the big boys. I’ve heard the ground has been good for the last couple of years, so much so some trainers think it’s been too fast.

“He actually doesn’t mind getting his toe in, but it was horrible and tacky at Clonmel.

“He has an incredible amount of speed, so if we could hit the board in a race like that, it would make the whole trip worth it.”