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Under The Radar: Liz Doyle's horses to follow
By Donn McClean
Last Updated: Tue 27 Oct 2026
By Donn McClean
The trainer tells Donn McClean how the Foxrock Chase at Navan in early December could be the right race for Ballybawn Belter, plus gives us two more names to follow.
Al Ferof finished third in a bumper at Punchestown in October 2009 on his debut under Rules. A point-to-point winner, Liz Doyle’s horse progressed from his Punchestown run and won next time at Fairyhouse.
Within a matter of weeks of his Fairyhouse win, Al Ferof was sold to Paul Nicholls and John Hales. Liz Doyle was sad to see him go, but, needs must, and she delighted in his achievements thereafter. He won a Grade 2 bumper at Newbury on his first run for Paul Nicholls, and he finished second behind Cue Card in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on his second. Back at Cheltenham 363 days later, he beat Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The day after Al Ferof won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenian lined up in the Champion Bumper. Another graduate from the Liz Doyle academy, the Astarabad gelding had finished second in a Punchestown bumper the previous October on his racecourse debut, his only run for Liz Doyle. He probably should have won that bumper too, he ducked a little to his left when it looked like he was coming to win his race and lost out by just over a length, the first two finishing well clear of their rivals.
After that, it was off to the sales and, bought by Roger Brookhouse, he won a bumper at Kempton on his first run for Philip Hobbs. Then he lined up in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, which he won, impressively, coming five lengths clear of his rivals.
Many other high-profile horses have passed through Liz Doyle’s hands. She pre-trained Fakir D’Oudairies, she pre-trained Allaho. She sent Eklat De Rire out to win his point-to-point before he joined Henry de Bromhead and climbed up to be the high-class staying chaser that he became.
Liz Doyle has proven that she can train a good horse too when she has a run at it. She won the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown with Penny’s Bill and she won the Foxrock Handicap Chase at Navan with Rich Revival. Last Goodbye won the Easter Handicap Hurdle and the Leopardstown Handicap Chase. Bois De Clamart won the Easter Handicap Hurdle and the Shamrock Handicap Chase. Le Vent D’Antan won the Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, and had boundless potential as a young chaser before his career was cruelly cut short.
Ballybawn Belter won the Paddy and Maureen Mullins Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2023, and she followed up by landing the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Series Final at the Punchestown Festival. Then last December, JP McManus’ mare won the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase, the feature race on the third day of Limerick’s Christmas Festival.
Ballybawn Belter won at Limerick’s Christmas Festival
This season is just getting going. Liz Doyle has had three winners from just seven runners in October so far.
“We had some issues with rape seed in April and May,” she says. “But thankfully they have been resolved now and the horses are in good form.”
Ballybawn Belter remains a flagship horse. Rated 124 over hurdles and 127 over fences, the Valirann mare ran a cracker on her first ever run on the flat, an eight-year-old, at Gowran Park in early September when she finished second behind Banbridge, with Antrim Coast and Path D’Oroux behind her in third and fourth places in a finish of chasers.
Sixth behind The Austrian and Teoest in another maiden at Listowel next time, a race that has been working out well, she went to Killarney early this month for her third flat race, and she won impressively.
“She’s an unbelievable mare,” says Liz. “She’s a lovely mare to have anything to do with. She loves her racing and she just wants to please you.”
Long Goodbye was impressive in winning a Ladies Pro/Am bumper at Tramore earlier this month, a race in which his trainer has a really good record. Manu Reva battled on well to get up and spring a surprise in a bumper at Punchestown. It was a surprise according to the market anyway, if not really to his trainer. The horses are going well, and there is lots to look forward to as the new National Hunt gathers momentum.
Doyle on her three to note
Ballybawn Belter
8yo mare (Valirann - Milford Maggie)
She’s in fantastic form. This is her fifth season now racing, and she retains all her ability and all her enthusiasm. It was great that she was able to win on the flat at Killarney. We had her in again on the flat at Galway on Tuesday, but racing was cancelled. A stiff two and a half miles is probably ideal for her over jumps. She ran well for a long way in the Troytown Chase at Navan last year, but three miles on heavy ground just found her out. She was much happier in the Tim Duggan Chase. We’ll be looking at those types of races for her again this season. The Foxrock Chase at Navan in early December is a race that could suit her.
Long Goodbye
5yo gelding (Motivator - Bella Napoli)
We were happy with his run in Down Royal at Christmas, when he just got up for second behind Boycetown. He had a nice break during the summer, and he was good at Tramore there last time. He jumps well and he could have a nice future.
Manu Reva
4yo gelding (Great Pretender - Doreedargent)
He was a big price on his debut at Punchestown, but we knew that he would run well, we thought that he would win! My sister is involved in him, and she backed him at 50/1. We like him a lot, he has a lovely French pedigree, with plenty of stamina. He’s in the sale at Cheltenham next month.
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