Going - Soft to Heavy. Bright and cold
Jackpot Pool - €9,039.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Fairyhouse on Sunday 3rd December. Placepot Pool - €47,171.40 Dividend - €69.40 Winning Units - 475.53. Pick Six Pool - €103,025.00 Dividend - €48,078.52 Winning Units - 1.5. Days Aggregate - €324,463.00 Last Year €355,691.00
Ratoute Yutty takes nice mares prize
She had some nice form. She's not the quickest mare in the world so bumpers were never going to be her thing. She never got that hard a race, we always looked after her. It was more to give her experience. This was a nice opportunity, I saw it in the calendar a couple of months ago. I gave her a break and trained her around this. She had a prep run in a bumper two or three weeks ago. She will be a lot better over three miles, she stays all day. She has a level of ability. She's not going to be a Grade One mare but we'll look at trying to get her black type somewhere down the line. Today was the plan. I'm not fussy after today. Next year and the year after are what we are training her for to get her black type. She is a valuable enough mare.
Samcro has star quality in Monksfield
That was a good performance and he did it very well. Jack said he gave him a bit of light at the third last and he just took off on him. It was nice to see he could do that (over two and a half miles) so we have loads of options. I'd say he will be (better on better ground). I just said to Davy Condon at the start that the one worry I had was that it was his first time on that real, real heavy ground. Most good horses win on every ground and he looks a real nice one. We are lucky to have him. He jumped the last like he jumped a fence but after running in point-to-points you expect that. I don't know if we'll go for Christmas, we might wait for the (Lawlors Hotel) race in Naas (2m4f). He's obviously a horse for next year, whatever he does will be a bonus this year. I thought that was a bit special what he did there, it was class.
Change of scenery suits Mathan
The only thing I can relate him to is Carvill's Hill when I used to work in Dreaper's. I worked him last Saturday over two miles and ended up going out another mile. He's a proper horse but he's like myself, he's had a lot of problems!. He does a lot of swimming. Cheek-pieces only went on him because he was half waiting on horses to come by him. I said to Denis today 'do me one favour and forget you ever sat on a horse before. Ride him with confidence'. Denis couldn't have carried it out better. He's in on Thursday in a beginners' chase so if his weight is right I might let him take his chance. He cost 300 grand four years ago albeit he hasn't won in four years. He's had a lot of problems in the past but hopefully they are all ironed out now. It was a bit short for him, he was running in three miles two in Cheltenham last year. I'm delighted, it wouldn't be a busy time of year for me.
Life's a Beach for Elliott in the Troytown
In fairness he is threatening to win a big race a long time. Simon (McGonagle) my head man rides him out every day at home and he had full confidence in him today. He said he'd love the ground and he thought he would go close. It hasn't been easy, it has been a long road and he's done alot of swimming. He was running in a Bobbyjo Chase a couple of years ago and fell at the second last so he deserved to win that today. If it ever came up soft in Aintree he could be an English National horse.
Red Devil Lads upsets odds in Proudstown
We quietly fancied him, and he had done some nice bits of work only of late. He's a very free-going horse and he has been on his own since his last run in August. It is only the last few weeks he has settled down to working with other horses. David gave him a brilliant ride. He switched off out in front and just threw the reins at him and he just kept galloping. I'm delighted for Bertie Cunningham. I bought the horse and luckily Bertie came in and took him from me. He could (go for a Pertemps qualifier) and he could go back over fences. He has a high enough mark over fences for some of the bigger pots. I wouldn't be surprised if he mixed it.
Crackerdancer is ultra tough in Listed bumper
She's wicked tough. Eoin said she was battling and battling the whole way and that he didn't think for a minute he was going to get beaten. She was giving him everything. I'm delighted for Patsy (O'Brien, owner) and the whole family. It's grand to win a race like that. She was taken on early and maybe that helped. Eoin was happy to let her roll at that pace. Even a bit further would suit. She'll stay all day. There's a mares' hurdle in Limerick at Christmas and she'd good to jump. She's deadly accurate.
