Going - Soft To Heavy. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €19,151.47 Dividend - €326.90 Winning Units - 41. Placepot Pool - €64,938.23 Dividend - €2,130.90 Winning Units - 21.33. Pick Six Pool - €43,999.00 Dividend - €30,799.30 Winning Units - 1. Days Aggregate - €441,406.00 Last Year €512,105.29
Guitar Pete adds a Grade 1 string to his bow
he's very honest, loves that trip and just gallops. He did it well when winning at Christmas and has done everything right since and the ground was the only thing today; he had never ran on ground as heavy as this but it didn't seem to bother him. You couldn't ask for much better today and there were some good horses and it was a very true run race. He's proven his worst now and will go for the Triumph Hurdle next - Our Conor might have a bit more speed but this lad grinds it out and jumps exceptionally well.
Lughnasa leads the ladies at Leopardstown
everything went according to plan and Ger gave her a great ride; hopefully we'll get another handicap for her again.
Deloitte winner is cut to Festival favouritism
we were concerned that there might be no pace and I said to Ruby if there was no pace not to be afraid to make it but that was Plan B! He took it though and he jumped well in front and I'm very happy with him. He did it the hard way and made the running for The Tullow Tank and everything else and they had their go at him and he just galloped away. I'm still happy to go for the Supreme Novice and they'll go a fair clip in that on better ground and he won't need to make his own running. It looks like he stays and will gallop up that hill and wasn't stopping there; I'd consider him for the Neptune Novice but I've other horses in mind for that race.
Mullins & Walsh complete Grade 1 doubles
he (Ballycasey) worked at Punchestown last week and Paul (Townend, rider) said he worked really well and was right. He had little problems after his last run and we put him away but when Champagne Fever couldn't today, we let Ballycasey take his chance and he's not a bad first reserve! . Don Cossack was playing the fitness card and when he came to Ballycasey, I thought we were beaten and I was surprised he pulled out. It was promising considering he was held up and hopefully will improve and being by Presenting, he should be better on better ground. I imagine he'll go for the RSA Chase unless Patrick twists my arm for the four miler but I doubt it!
'Danoli' Foley back with Hennessy Day win
he's (Never Enough Time) after turning inside out in the last while but hopefully the handicapper doesn't kill him now!. Everything went right and Ger gave him a super ride and did everything perfectly. He got a stone for winning at Gowran and I'd hate to think what he'll get now but as Frank (Berry, owner J.P. McManus' racing manager) was saying to me, today was what matters!. We'll see what happens after this but he'll make a nice chaser and I'd like to keep him for novice chasing for next season and I don't want to be too hard on him.
Last Instalment wins Hennessy Gold Cup
it was a great performance and he jumped great. It wasn't ideal to be that handy but Brian had little option after jumping the first fence and tactically it was a good ride; he was able to slow it down in front and used his jumping to keep bringing him back. Brian has a 100% record on the horse and rides him very well. It's great to have the horse back and he confirmed all his novice form and looks as good as ever. It was a bit of a concern having just a second run here taking on that sort of competition and we'll weight up our options now but it looks like we'll be heading for the Gold Cup.
Tammys likely to get hunters' chase 'divorce'
Tammys Hill probably won't go to Cheltenham (for the Foxhunters Chase) as he has run two or three times over there and has never produced. He 'll probably go handicapping now instead and today was his Gold Cup; it was really everyone's Gold Cup as the whole of the North follows him!. He'll probably go for the Ulster National now and I spoke to the handicapper beforehand and he said to me he would get into that race regardless of where he finished today. James Smyth (whose father Patrick Smyth owns the horse) does all the riding, feeding and everything with him and everything is down to him. He told me he was in very good form coming here today but the reason he didn't ride him was he would have had to carry overweight and the Stewards wouldn't let him ride at 2lbs overweight. We decided rather than him being too weak to give someone else a chance and I told Robbie (McNamara) beforehand to come with him half way up the run-in and he said to me 'it'll be later than that!'.
Brace for McNamara but no Cheltenham Vigil
it was a good performance and Robbie did the right thing when he dropped him right out as they were going too fast early on. He decided to change tactics when the pace of the race decides. We only have the three bumper horses (also Silver Concorde and Windsor Park) and maybe one of the three might go for the Cheltenham bumper but I doubt this fella will go. We'll make a decision in a couple of weeks but they'll be three nice horses for the Flat as the season progresses and will be dual purpose horses.
