Going - Heavy. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €6,116.63 Dividend - €178.40 Winning Units - 24. Placepot Pool - €30,236.01 Dividend - €38.00 Winning Units - 556.83. Pick Six Pool - €46,467.86 Dividend - €5,004.20 Winning Units - 6.5. Days Aggregate - €203,923.00 Last Year €223,744.00
Champion Mullins registers 1-2 in Gowran's opener
we just thought he might need the run having not run in a while (since January 2017) and his first run over fences but he's done it well. He was careful early on but warmed up nicely into it. I was fairly confident they were going a right good gallop and they weren't going to the go to the line like that. He came alive under me going down the hill, and I knew that I'd pick them off. He gets away with two and a half on this ground going a good gallop but he wants further really.
Gloves are off for dominant Duke, Gold Cup next
I'm absolutely delighted; he was good and Robert said he really only started jumping when the gun was to his head over the last three. He loses his concentration but was much sharper today. He only starts concentrating when he goes quick, and you can't go too quick on that ground. He wouldn't have liked that ground as it's horrible ground, and it's a good performance giving Presenting Percy 7lb.
Three-time winner Tongie takes the third at Gowran
maybe we were running him over the wrong trip, and he made that look very simple. I had dreams of winning three-mile chases but in fairness David Mullins said this trip (two miles) was fine for him. It's a good day to get a winner, and he could come back here for a good handicap next month.
Harrington & Power complete big races double at Gowran
she was a bit slow jumping the second last but the other one (Identity Thief) didn't get away from her and she winged the last. She puts her head down and she loves galloping. She'll go two and a half on better ground but she won't go to Cheltenham as she doesn't travel. She went there last year and she melted. We'll go to Fairyhouse and Punchestown with her - there's a mares Grade 1 hurdle at Punchestown and she could run in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse also. She won a Listed race early on (this season) and then to come back after finishing second twice is fantastic. She is her own madam and has to go down to the gallops first at home. When she wants to go, she has to go and you can't wait.
Triumph Hurdle next stop for Ricci's Saldier
that was a nice performance. He had a little setback at Christmas and we couldn’t run him but he’s always shown us that he’s half-decent and looks it on that evidence there. The loose horse (Tildas Icon) rammed him with a circuit to race and gave him every opportunity to run off the track and set him alight but he seemed to take it all in his stride. He jumped well throughout the race, and is a horse that we can look forward to. He’s in the Triumph Hurdle and looks like he could be good enough to take his place. We’ll see how he comes out of this race but he handled that ground well but better ground won’t inconvenience him.
Laid Back Luke gains fifth career win
I didn’t think he’d like the ground and thought it would be too gluey but Robbie never gave an inch away and was almost brushing the rail on the relatively better ground. I was delighted the way he battled back at the finish. We’ll just keep mixing it up with him, he can do anything and I think there is a big Flat handicap in him. What a horse — he’s won a hurdle, chase, bumper and a Flat handicap and he’s just brilliant to have in the yard. He’s a bit difficult when you get up on him and is a bit of a character but Robbie knows him so well, and he does all the work. I can’t take any of the kudos!
Byrnes beats bookies with another Bumper bashing
my mother passed away before Christmas and we called her after my mother so it was a bit of a pressure one!
