Dreaper a chip off the old block
Feature article brought to you by Fairyhouse and Navan Racecourse
DAVID JENNINGS
Tom Dreaper is a chip off the old block - great company, witty and knowledgeable. Remind you of anyone?
Tom's father Jim is a legend of Irish racing, the man who trained Carvill's Hill, Harcon, Merry Gale, River Tarquin and, of course, Ten Up who won the 1975 Cheltenham Gold Cup under Tommy Carberry. Tom took over the licence from Jim back in 2024 and he has his eyes fixed on the biggest prize in Irish jump racing - the Boyle Sports Irish Grand National.
The horse being aimed there is Folly Master, owned by Declan and Elaine O'Farrell who are well known in the Irish racing industry through their signage business Race Displays company.
"It's definitely the aim and has been for some time," replied Dreaper when the Irish Grand National suggestion of Folly Master was put to him.
"We've been running him over shorter trips but I think he will stay all day. The race looks made for him and ever since he was second in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse last Easter we have been hoping to get him back there for the big one in 12 months time."
Folly Master was last seen in action at Gowran Park on Saturday over a wholly inadequate trip of two miles, but he performed very well in finishing fourth to Jigoro. That should leave him spot on for the Easter Monday marathon at Fairyhouse on 5th April.
"I was delighted with him at Gowran and was just what the doctor ordered before Fairyhouse," Dreaper said.
So, what would it mean to Dreaper if he happened to win Ireland's richest and most prestigious jumps race?
"It would mean the world to me, but it would probably mean even more to Dad," he said. "As much of a kick I would get out of it, he would absolutely love it. He's still a huge part of the team here and I would be lost without him."
Dreaper would have been a hugely successful jockey had height not got in the way. "I was a 6ft 3in beanpole," he laughs. "I had some great times with Ferdy Murphy, but I knew it wasn't going to last forever.
"I used to love riding a horse called Calatagan. He was as mad as a box of frogs and everyone in the place was petrified of him but I loved him."
Dreaper won five times on the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Calatagan, including back-to-back runnings of the Castleford Handicap Chase. He could ride, that's for sure, and he can train, too. The Irish Grand National might prove just how good he is at it.
This feature has been brought to you by Fairyhouse and Navan Racecourse.
Racing idol: Richard Dunwoody.
Favourite horse: Calatagan
First winner: Folly Master at Thurles in 2024
Horse to watch out for: An unnamed four-year-old by Kew Gardens