Team O’Meara is in great form. At the end of the 2016 flat season the Andrews Bowen sponsored yard had passed the magic 100 winners mark, sat top of the All Weather trainers championship and, with a strike rate of 18% for the final quarter, finished an inconsistent season strongly.

With the slate wiped clean on January 1, David O’Meara’s crew faces the new season with growing confidence. A double at Lingfield from Coillte Cailin and Alfred Hutchinson on the first Saturday of the year added to the positive vibes. Alfred Hutchinson will now be aimed at Lingfield’s All Weather finals day on Good Friday.

Sir Lancelot became the yard’s third winner of the year, scoring at Wolverhampton a week later. While a small pool of active horses is keeping the yard competitive this winter in the All Weather championship, behind the scenes plans for the 2017 flat season are in full swing.

The stables’ Equaflow gallop is a hive of activity with 120 horses going through their daily routines each morning. With the Dubai World Cup meeting on the horizon, Mondialiste is well into his preparations for a possible trip to Meydan. Closer to home, Steel Train and Bravery, a new recruit for Sprint Thoroughbred Racing, have been given entries for the Lincoln at Doncaster’s opening meeting.

With some of O’Meara’s stars getting early closing entries, the excitement for the flat season is beginning to increase.