Hear the full interview
From 19:58 in Friday’s episode of Nick Luck Daily. Press play to start at the interview.
Adrian Keatley believes Hell Of A Spin can make punters “scratch their heads” in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland next Friday, as the Malton trainer prepares for his first runner at the meeting.
The son of Naval Crown has been sent straight from a Hamilton maiden win to Group 3, Group 2 and Group 1 level, placing in the Molecomb at Goodwood, the Gimcrack at York and the Middle Park at Newmarket at starting prices of 66-1, 18-1 and 33-1. He was third in the Middle Park despite not getting the clearest of runs.
“He’s a bit of a terrier-like mind. He likes to get his head down and try his heart out when you need him,” Keatley told Nick Luck. “He didn’t get the clearest of passages in the Middle Park, but his runs in the Gimcrack and the Molecomb before that were excellent as well, and he seems to be improving from every run.”
“Hopefully, next Friday, after the Juvenile Turf Sprint, they’ll all be scratching their heads wondering why they didn’t back him before now.”
Adrian Keatley
Keatley has sought advice from trainers with experience of running in America. “A lot of it is luck in running. A good draw definitely helps, but you need everything to fall right on the day,” he said. “If they go hard and you’re coming late, you have to be very lucky not to get stuck behind a horse coming back at you. But I’ve no doubt about him handling the occasion, handling the fast pace and being able to finish out strong.”
He is delighted with how the colt looks. “He strolled around Newmarket the last day and he looked a picture, and he still looks a picture,” he said. “He has a coat on him like a seal, and he’s ready to go.”
Jane Mangan, joining Nick on the show, gave him a solid place chance. “He’s got experience and he’s hardened,” she said, recalling that it is ten years since Keatley’s shock Irish 1,000 Guineas win with Jet Setting.
Indian River at Cheltenham
Keatley also runs Indian River, joint favourite for the big four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon, and does not expect the rain to be a problem. “He’s won in soft at Wetherby, and his best run, when he was third in the Grade 1, was on soft,” he said.
Keatley admitted he ran Indian River too soon on his first start, but said he came on “a ton” for his run in the Triumph Hurdle. “We’ve had plenty of work into him since and he seems to be in good form,” he said. “Hopefully he can go there and have a fighting chance.”
