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Lorna Fowler is plotting a chasing future for Colonel Mustard as she prepares to showcase her Cheltenham Festival star at an upcoming open morning, writes Paul Martin.

The seven-year-old claimed a third-placed finish from a packed County Hurdle field in March, building on his third in Grade 1 company at the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and second at Ascot in a Grade 2 contest.

Fowler now hopes the Cluedo-inspired star can handle the step up to fences while she is also planning next steps for recent success stories Politesse – who has victories at the Connacht National and Galway Festival under her belt this year – and Naughtinesse.

“Colonel Mustard schooled over fences this week and I was very happy,” she said.

“It’s not easy to find two-mile beginner chases for him but he might get a run on the flat to prime him up and then send him to a beginners chase at Navan in early November. 

“If that went well, we’d see what fits, but he’s got the option of going back to hurdles too.  

"Politesse is planned for a Grade 3 on October 12 at Punchestown and Naughtinesse is being aimed at a Grade 3 Novices’ Hurdle at Down Royal in November.

“I’ve had a great season. Colonel Mustard was brilliant in the County Hurdle, Politesse has been a star and Doyenna has been a little champion – her grandmother, Opera Hat, was trained here by Harry [Lorna’s husband]’s father. She was a terrier when winning at Tramore recently.”

 

 

 

Fowler’s stable stars are set to be showcased on October 2, when she opens the doors at her unique Victorian base at Rahinston.

Attendees will be able to see the stately home and the enviable training facilities set amid hundreds of acres near Summerhill, Co Meath, with Fowler still looking for opportunities to showcase the backdrop for film and television opportunities.

It remains a stunning location for training horses and Fowler is looking forward to letting the local community get a glimpse into day-to-day life running the yard.

“It’s a unique place, a pretty big farm with a beautiful house,” she said. “There’s a lot to see in itself. 

“The idea is we’ll go down and see certain horses on the gallops, then we’ll do a parade back up at the barn for the others. 

“We’ll show everyone who is riding at the moment, including a few for sale, and I’ll do a Q&A to answer any questions people might have.

“It’s our first open day here but my mother used to train in Scotland and we did a few open days up there 25-30 years ago. 

“They were brilliant and we used to get loads of interest, so we are looking forward to it. We are keen to let everybody see the place – it has a lovely feel.”

To sign up for Lorna Fowler’s open day, register here.