Going - Soft. Fine
Trifecta Not Won. Pool of €2,364.93 carried forward to Dundalk on Friday 20th January. Jackpot Pool - €5,011.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Dundalk on Friday 20th January. Placepot Pool - €16,451.35 Dividend - €1,890.00 Winning Units - 6.52. Daily Double Pool - €435.00 Pick Six Pool - €927.00 Days Aggregate - €49,109.00 Last Year €69,228.00
Folsom gives rivals the Blues
I wasn't sure whether to go novice hurdling or handicapping with him after Limerick. He's a bit small but I wouldn't swap him, and he jumps well and stays well. He seems to love it here and travels well on that ground. He could come back here for the Michael Purcell Hurdle providing there is cut in the ground.
Apt shows gritty Approach to land Kinloch Brae
He must be a fair horse to win after making a mistake like that, and he's certainly improving. It's very hard to find a race for him, and he's too high now for handicaps, so he'll either go for the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup. Maybe the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park next month could be an option before Cheltenham.
Russell scores again on Knockfierna
Davy gets on really well with her, and him being on board made up for the 6lb she was giving away. Her jumping was a bit slow at times but when Davy wanted her to jump she was there for him. She has been a revelation and will go to Limerick on March 18 for a similar race.
Quietly takes advantage of favourite's exit
He might not have beaten the other horse but he wasn't giving up. He's improving but has had his problems and missed a year. He's definitely going in the right direction and is a very good jumper. He should stay three miles, and we'll look for a winners-of-one for him now.
Argocat records decisive win
Everything he does over hurdles is a bonus as he's a smashing horse who loves jumping. He might turn out to be a good horse in time, and it was a fair race that he finished third in the last day. He had the four-year-old's weight allowance and Brian is also good value for his 7lb claim. He'll get an entry in the Fred Winter, and is a staying four-year-old who is going the right way. Bringing him to Thurles was useful to see if he could handle the undulations.
Hughes ends very lean spell
I've had no National Hunt runners since last May apart from this horse, although I've a few bumper horses ready to run this year. He dropped himself out at Navan the last day before running on a bit, and we decided to put cheek-pieces on him. They worked at home but I wasn't sure if they would work here or not. You couldn't back him on that ground.
Merchant completes hat-trick
That was very pleasing and it looked a good renewal of the race. I was very concerned about the ground and the fact that he had to give weight to nearly every other horse. He put in a few spectacular jumps and just got a bit tired in the closing stages. He's lightly raced still even though he's an eight-year-old, and he'll go now for the Raymond Smith at Leopardstown on Hennessy day. We'll see how he gets on there before making any more plans but I'd love to have a runner at the Cheltenham Festival.
