Going - Soft (Heavy In Places). Overcast
Trifecta Not Won. Pool of €592.78 carried forward to Limerick on Wednesday 25th January. Jackpot Pool - €5,000.00 Dividend - €375.00 Winning Units - 10. Placepot Pool - €23,980.90 Dividend - €16.10 Winning Units - 1115.41. Pick Six Pool - €5,000.00 Dividend - €1,250.00 Winning Units - 3. Days Aggregate - €76,311.00 Last Year €108,110.00
Vesper Bell wins Fairyhouse opener
he did it the hard way but did it well. We'll step him up in trip and find something over 2m6f or 3m if we can. His owners probably want to go for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Ceol Rua making the right noises
Ceol Rua's jumping has improved and it made all the difference. She is learning with experience and I imagine the mares' hurdle at Punchestown should be the aim. She'll probably go for a novice hurdle in between and her pedigree suggests she wants better ground . she had a good run at Aintree on good ground. When they go faster, her jumping will be better - I was impressed by the way she dug it out after she was passed today.
Tempo completes Mullins/Walsh treble
she is holding her form and that was nice to win, given the ground. We had the choice of coming here or going to the Boylesports Hurdle but rather than take on a handicap with 20 runners, we decided to take out chance today eventhough the ground might not be as suitable. I was very pleased with that but not sure where we'll go as she's done more than enough . she's an iron mare and has been on the go since Galway and been doing it in all sorts of ground. She'll get an entry for the Ryanair Chase but I'm not sure if she's good enough.
Hip off the mark over fences
I was delighted with his jumping today as opposed to being horrified at Christmas! . He had it all to do today . the first two horses are both good horses. I wanted to get his jumping right today and get that win out of the way. That's mission accomplished now and we'll probably go for a winners' race somewhere now.
Caolaneoin impresses in maiden win
Paul (Townend) said he would have no problem with going two and a half miles and we thought the same before coming here today. We'll look at some of the better novice for him now but he's had two quick runs so he'll tell us when to go. He hadn't a hard race and I don't think it took too much out of him. He settled better because they went a bit faster and I think he'll go in yielding ground but he handles that well and we'll stick with it while we can. Everyone who sees him says he is a chaser in the making and everything he does is a stepping stone to going chasing next season.
Cahernaun scores handicap win
I was disappointed with her at Limerick when I fancied her but she ran lifeless. She just stays and hopefully can win a couple of these handicaps. She handled the ground today which is a help. I blamed the ground at Limerick but I can't blame it today as she won!
Embarassement of Riccis for Mullins!
Champagne Fever learned an awful lot from his run at Leopardstown over Christmas. He ran very green then and today's soft ground was also a big help. He is by Stowaway and they go on soft ground. The plan was to go jumping but the way he won we'll reflect on that now.
