McCann Dreaming of Punchestown glory Anthony McCann is hoping Familiar Dreams can bag another nice prize at Punchestown on Wednesday before a date in the sales ring the following day. The Postponed mare has been a revelation this season, winning three bumpers on the bounce. Most recently she posted an impressive front-running performance to land a Listed contest at Fairyhouse late last month. The five-year-old, a £4,000 purchase by McCann, holds an entry in the Grade 3 Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race at the festival this week. She is also among those set to go under the hammer at the Goffs sale held at the racecourse after racing on Thursday evening. “The plan is, ground permitting, she'll go to the Grade 3 mares' bumper at Punchestown,” said McCann. "She carries no penalty in that, so it is a good idea as she gave weight away the last day. "That race is on the Wednesday and then she is entered for the sales on the Thursday evening in Punchestown. "It is always a dream to have a horse like her. She has been very, very good to me and I sourced her myself. I believed in her from day one and the dream has come true. "If a fairytale could come true, someone would buy her and leave her in the yard. It is not too often a dream becomes a fairytale. "She is a very good mare but a small yard like us have to let them go, unfortunately, to build on it again. "She came out of Fairyhouse bouncing, she worked on the Curragh on Tuesday. We always take her eight days before (a race), that is what I have done the last three times she has won. She actually blew us away on Tuesday. I have never seen her looking as well, as strong, as big. "We're going there fairly confident. I'm sure Willie (Mullins) will have three or four mares in it and Gavin (Cromwell) and Gordon (Elliott). You are going to have the best in it, but she has earned her shot. "She hasn't let us down yet and I don't know if there is a mare on soft ground that could touch her at the minute this year.” (Michael Graham)
