Connections expecting to learn plenty about Indiana Dream this weekend

Connections are unsure what to expect from exciting new recruit Indiana in the Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase at on Sunday.

A winner on his only start in France, the JP McManus-owned gelding bolted up on his first outing for Willie Mullins in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day of 2023 and was similarly impressive on his chasing debut at Navan that December.

Having been off the track for over a year and moved across the Irish Sea, will be thrown in at the deep end at this weekend’s Winter Million meeting, and A J O’Neill, who trains the seven-year-old in partnership with his father Jonjo, is treating it as a fact-finding mission.

“We haven’t had him too long. He’s a big, fine horse but he’s got quite a peculiar profile and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the track and finding out some more about him,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“We’ve only had him a couple of months, but he’s obviously had setbacks that have been the reason behind those gaps between races. Hopefully we can keep everything right with him.

“He’s been very straightforward. He’s had three runs and is starting off a mark of 152 and it’s hard to know where to start off.

“He won his chase very well, that was the reason for the mark that he’s got, and we’ll just see how he gets on.”

The O’Neill team will be well represented across the Winter Million cards at Windsor and Ascot, with Johnnywho and Wreckless Eric both declared to run at the Thameside track on Friday.

Wreckless Eric fell on his stable debut at Wincanton, but has since won and finished second at Cheltenham, meaning hopes are high ahead of the £110,000 Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle.

O’Neill added: “He was unlucky at Wincanton and has been very consistent and it was fantastic that he gave O’Neill Racing (father and son partnership) its first Cheltenham winner, so we’ve got a soft spot for him.

“The Megsons (owners) have been very good to us and it’s great to be able to have a horse that’s able to run in a race like this. It’s lovely prize-money and we’re looking forward to seeing how he get on.

“We’d like to think he’ll be competitive, but it is a very competitive race.”