Going - Soft to Heavy (Hurdle); Soft, Yielding in places (Chase). Overcast, threat of showers
Jackpot Pool - €14,084.51 Not Won. Carried forward to No Course on Monday 8th February. Placepot Pool - €50,051.44 Dividend - €40.40 Winning Units - 861.49. Quadpot Pool - €4,332.13 Dividend - €9.70 Winning Units - 327.7. Days Aggregate - €268,732.00 Last Year €524,337.00
Hennessy hails Help from Heaven
it’s a great thrill to win Paddy’s race. We were neighbours and when I was a young lad he would often bring me to the races and make sure I got home as well. she was second here in a Grade 1. I wasn’t sure she was as mad about the fences. She’ll do it for you but was not really in love with it so we said we’d switch her back to hurdles. Niall Prendergast does all the work with her and Richie (Condon) came in to ride her out so with Danny not available he got the ride and can claim 7lb. She might go for a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown to try and get her into Cheltenham. I’d love to have a runner at the Festival. We were beaten in a final at Shelbourne last night when the gaps didn’t open so this is fantastic.
Elliott off the mark on Day 2 with unbeaten Quilixios
in fairness to the horse he missed Christmas; my plan was to go to Chepstow with him for the Grade 1 and that was called off. Big thanks to Tom Malone as he bought the horse for Cheveley Park and that’s their first Grade 1 winner since Mr Thompson passed away. He’s been a big supporter of the yard. He’s more than a juvenile and is a horse for next year as well. I’d imagine he’ll go for the Triumph along with Zanahiyr unless he gets a nice mark in the Fred Winter.
Appreciate It cut for Supreme glory
He didn't jump with as much fluency and was never in control of the race like I thought I could have been but the good ones get it done and thankfully he has done it. he was very good once Paul set him alight and I thought he put it to bed straight away. After the second last there looked to be a gang of horses queuing up behind to challenge him and the minute he changed gear there was only one horse, Ballyadam, and he fluffed the last. I’d like him to jump better than he did today. He was a bit careless down the back.
Mullins lands the 'small fry handicap' with 40/1 outsider
he raced too keen in Navan and racing like that he wasn’t jumping well. Today I just said to Conor to get him switched off which he did and he gave him a super ride. He rode him for luck and got a great run up the inside most of the way and it paid off. He stayed that trip well. I’ll look forward to all the Festivals with him for the rest of the season and he can go back and race on the Flat as well. He can mix it between the two and he might win a chase at some stage. There could be a big handicap in him on the Flat.
Monkfish maintains unbeaten chase record
what can you say after a performance like that — Paul thought he should be in the next race (the Irish Gold Cup)!. I was more impressed with him today than any day. It looks like he’s getting better with each run. The ease of it was impressive. This fella has the same potential (as Florida Pearl and Al Boum Photo); everything is so effortless, and he has huge scope no matter how he meets a fence.
Team Mullins wins Irish Gold Cup
We’ll have a chat with the owners but maybe something like the Ryanair and let him enjoy himself and race from the beginning might suit him. myself and David (Mullins) were chatting after the race at Christmas and he said he's not fast but is a great galloper and this is a ride he would probably have had so it's thanks to him that I am on board today. It's great to be winning these high level races at the big meetings is what it's all about and riding a good horse like this is fantastic.
Dublin winner Byrnes - 'I don't lay horses'
We don’t believe we were anyway negligent. There is lessons to be learned from all sides. The case has dragged on for over two years. Nobody is being held to account for the horse being laid. Betfair are not putting anyone forward. I have big questions about the horse being laid. There has only been two people questioned in two years. I don’t lay horses, I back horses. that’s his third win here and Mark was brilliant on him. We thought he would run well at Limerick over Christmas but he just can’t jump out of the heavy ground. It was a fierce competitive race and only he got such a good ride he wouldn’t have won.
Mullins 9 - 6 Rest
Jody springs a surprise without her 7lb claim. She did exactly what I asked her to do — go around behind and keep your powder dry till the end. I was disappointed with her at Market Rasen. The winner looked a very good mare. However, she was a young mare travelling away for the first time and probably learned a lot from there. She enjoys being ridden that way. Patrick rode that way in Galway the first day, and that renews my faith in her. We’ll have a chat about where she goes and I’d always be keen to go to Cheltenham.
