Kevin Blake fancies Ireland's chances of going back-to-back in the Racing League as the reigning champions begin their title defence at Great Yarmouth on Thursday evening.
After ending last season's curtain raiser at the Norfolk course in sixth place, Ireland built up a head of steam through the competition to sensationally overhaul Wales & The West in the final race at Southwell.
Team Ireland will be looking to get out of the blocks quickly on the opening night, with Blake ensuring the boys in green have a full team of 14 horses declared at the seaside venue.
"On a personal level, I am buzzing. I love this competition and everything about it. I felt it really turned a corner in Ireland last year after the excitement of the final night," said Blake, who is Ireland's team manager. "Walking around the races and sales here, I could not believe the amount of people who were saying they enjoyed it, including people I never suspected would be Racing League followers.
"I think this should be reflected in our performance and the amount of Irish engagement with the competition. We have 41 Irish-based trainers signed up this year and eight in the UK. We are making no apologies; we are coming to win it. We have put a lot of effort in already and I am looking forward to seeing how it all pans out on the racecourse.
"As was the case last year, I would expect us to get stronger as the competition progresses. If we make a good start, that would be pretty ominous for the opposition, and looking at our declarations for Yarmouth, I think we have a right chance of getting a lot of points on the board."
Blake has secured the services of top Irish apprentices Jamie Powell and Adam Caffrey, and the team Ireland manager is expecting both to showcase their talents in weeks to come.
He said: "I have two top apprentices coming over in Jamie Powell, who is the reigning Champion Apprentice in Ireland, and Adam Caffrey, who is leading the Apprentice Championship in Ireland at the minute. Both are claiming 3lb and it is fantastic to be able to bring them over and showcase them to a wider audience."
The George Boughey-trained Good Good Good, who holds a Group 1 entry, makes her handicap debut back over six furlongs, and Blake pinpointed her as the team's best chance on the night.
Blake continued: "Star Harbour is a gem. He ran three times in the competition last year – he won at Chepstow, was unlucky at Windsor and then finished what proved to be an absolutely vital fourth at Southwell in the very last race to get us over the line. His ownership group love Racing League and they are booked to come over on Thursday.
"George Boughey was our top points scorer last year. Both of us have been plotting for months and he has a runner in every race on Thursday. I think he has our best chance of the night in Good Good Good, who goes in the six-furlong handicap. She has a Group 1 entry and runs here off a mark of 82."
London & The South, who had victory snatched away from them on the final night in 2022, finished a clear third last year and manager Matt Chapman hopes his team can punch above its weight again.
Chapman said: "As everyone knows, we massively overachieved in recent years and, because we are a close-knit outfit, I expect us to massively overachieve again this time. But realistically, if I was betting, I would have Ireland as 1/2 favourites."
On his leading hopes this week, Chapman said: "First of all, I am disappointed that Astro King is not running in the feature race. He was due to run but scoped badly, which is a shame because he would have been a huge player.
"We have two nice Jeff Smith horses in Storm Star and Equity Law. Storm Star is unexposed, while Equity Law disappointed last time but had won well the time before. I would expect both of them to go well.
"The bottom line is that this is a big meeting for The East. If Chris Hughes, who as far as I can see has spent all his time building up to this on a beach in Greece, is not top at the close of play, then you might as well forget about him. Chris will have failed instantly as this is a home game for his team."
The 2022 champions Wales & The West can once again call upon the services of Saffie Osborne, who has been the leading rider in Racing League for the last two years.
Osborne has three mounts at Great Yarmouth including Michael Bell's Stone Circle, who goes for a repeat win in the five-furlong handicap.
The North's Richard Fahey sent out 38 runners during last year's competition, more than double any other trainer, and has four contenders at Great Yarmouth.
Yorkshire and Scotland, who filled the final two places in the 2023 standings, will be hoping for a reverse in fortunes in 2024, although bookmakers Paddy Power make them both 20/1 respectively to land the overall prize. The same firm makes Wales & The West their 9/4 market leaders to claim Racing League glory, with team Ireland just a point bigger at 11/4 to make it back-to-back wins in the contest.
