Going - Heavy. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €8,607.00 Dividend - €717.20 Winning Units - 9. Placepot Pool - €80,895.75 Dividend - €18.40 Winning Units - 3288.44. Pick Six Pool - €3,795.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Thurles on Thursday 9th February. Days Aggregate - €1,048,656.50 Last Year €161,456.00
Dead-heat in Punchestown opener
he made hard work of it and ran very free. He needed the experience but it was a bit of a gamble to come here on that ground, over that trip. However, we needed to get a run into him.
Trifolium books Cheltenham ticket
I'm very happy with that. He's prefer better ground, like most horses.
Moran back in the winner's enclosure
things worked out for Cootamundra today, he got the gaps. Lads have been knocking him saying he doesn't find a lot but he just has a great cruising pace, travels terrifically well and keeps going at that - he would lie up in a Champion Hurdle!
Sizing stamps authority over Big Zeb
myself and Andrew (Lynch) are delighted!. Andrew said he didn't jump like he normally does but I thought he was brilliant! He just popped a few because of the ground and didn't let ‘fly' but it was a savage performance and it is straight to Cheltenham now and that's the prep run out of the way. Hopefully he is ok in the morning and we'll roll on from there - he is an amazing horse to be involved with. I'm probably only brave enough now to make the running with him . it has taken me six years to let him roll on at his own pace. In most of the top races there is plenty of pace on so he didn't need to do that but I said to Andrew to just go out and enjoy himself. Travelling (to Britain) is like having another race and it's great to win a race at Punchestown. It is great for Irish racing to have two champions running here and this was a stepping stone for both horses - they are usually so close and I'm sure they'll be a lot closer come Cheltenham!
Portrait makes the frame
he was unlucky the last day and deserved that. He has been placed in hurdles and bumpers but that is his first win, apart from a point to point. He'd prefer further and will get four miles. He'll head across the water for a staying chase, probably the Eider Chase at Newcastle at the end of the month. He loved the testing conditions and it's a tougher track than Fairyhouse which suited him.
Mullins doubles up with Scotsirish
I thought Scotsirish made hard work of it but the ground was very heavy. His banking is very slick and he is getting better at it all the time - I imagine he'll go to that Corss Country Race at Cheltenham now and hopefully himself and Uncle Junior will go there.
Bright start for Morning Assembly
I got a bit of a fright down the back straight when he was struggling to stay with them, but he came home great. Every bit of work he has done, he has done it well. He is still green and we'll freshen him up a bit before making a plan.
