Going - Yielding To Soft (Soft after 3rd race). Overcast and showery
Jackpot Pool - €5,000.00 Dividend - €388.80 Placepot Pool - €22,301.92 Dividend - €148.80 Days Aggregate - €236,080.00 (8 races). Last Year €103,693.00 (7 races).
Williamson lands Legends Race
John Shortt was a great pal of mine, a great fella and he was a great horseman as well. Thanks to Gordon Elliott and thanks to Sheikh Fahad for letting me ride him. We came up with the plan a couple of weeks ago. As Gordon said, it put a little bit of buzz to the race with a real good horse in it. I know he won well but at least he ran in it. He gave me a terrific ride. He was the class horse in the race if he didn't misbehave. To be fair, he's behaved with us the whole time. Sir Mark Prescott has done all the hard work with him. Maybe it's just the change of scenery that has helped him. He'll be hurdling in a couple of weeks' time and he jumps very well. He has done loads to schooling. He travelled away like he had a bit of spark in him and you'd be delighted with him.
Samcro pleases on hurdles debut
Job done — we think he's a nice horse. Jack said it was pretty straight-forward and he would have done as much at home on the gallop,. He's relaxed and you could step him up in trip but he's got the pace for that. He's a nice horse, it's hard to know how good he is but we like him and we think the world of him. His bumpers were very good last year. Half-way through his bumpers he looks like he goes to sleep and is lobbing along. I think the day we really saw him was the day with Lisa when she gave him a slap down the shoulder, at Fairyhouse, and he showed the pace he has. He put it to sleep there from the turn-in to the last, he put 15-lengths between them. I don't think he could have done anymore than he did. He'd have to improve again to go to the next level but he looks a nice horse. We have that many of them we have to split them up. It'll be steady steady and he'll have one more run before Christmas I'd imagine. We'll have to look at something like the Royal Bond. I've said it all along I think he's quick enough for two miles and he has the stamina to stay and step out whenever you want. Chasing is going to be his game so we'll try and mind him.
Lex gets there on start 21
He's been improving with every run, just coming along and getting a little bit better everytime,. His run the last day was good and he just improved again from it. I thought the ground might be a bit soft for him but he said it half helped him in a way as he settled a little bit better. He jumped well and I thought he gave him a brilliant ride. He went round the inner the whole way, scraped the fence and got a great run around the inside going around the last bend. It just made the difference between winning and losing. He just puts his head down and gallops. He's probably well enough handicapped on the Flat and there could be a Flat race in him as well.
Ben delivers in style
He's a nice horse. He did a good bit of work with us a couple of weeks ago. We fancied him and thankfully he won,. Chris deserved it as he had a bit of bad luck lately with Mega Fortune. He's a big supporter of the yard so it's nice to repay him with that winner.
"Going a gear faster" and Death Duty shines
I've always thought the world of this horse. Last year I was of the opinion that he probably wanted three miles but I'd say I might have been wrong to be honest,. He wasn't right in Cheltenham, so look we'll put a line through last year. He was always bought to be a chaser and chasing is his game. He's a horse to look forward to. I'd say we'll keep him between two-and-a-half to two-six. That gives us loads of options. He jumped well in Tipperary, I know he made a mistake at the last. I'd say just going a gear faster and having to be more competitive suited him better. You'd have to be delighted with him. I'd say he'll go for the Drinmore now and I'd say he'll go straight there.
Respect makes nice start to season
I'm delighted. We had Disko and himself in this and felt this fella just comes a little bit quicker and the other fella takes a little more work,. I think Disko will go to the north for the JN Wine Chase. It could well be that this fella goes for the second season novice in the north, I don't know and we'll see what happens. He's back well and he done that well. We're not surprised he won, we thought he came on a good bit since last year. He seemed very well and he doesn't take a lot of work, it's just keeping him fresh and keeping him happy. He said he was a bit rusty early on and landed a bit steep and whatever, but when he went he got there real well. He stays. In fairness Eoin (Griffin) said that to me, he couldn't believe we were talking about two-and-a-half. All along he always felt that three miles is his trip. He's matured into a nice horse. That's the softest he's won on I think. We're thrilled. Hopefully he comes sound and he's alright. We can think about where we go after that. Anything is open to him. He's in the big one in the north as well but it might come a bit soon and we have Disko. There is a board meeting every time and decisions are made. In fairness Mike and Eddie do sort of row in with you and go with what you say. It's not all one-way traffic or anything like that. There are other horses to be considered. I know with Mike the one thing he always seems to do is run in Grade Ones so if we go in a good race there will be no problem with him.
Nap hand for Elliott at Punchestown
He was a cheap buy from Ascot sales and I struggled to sell him for a week or two actually,. We got him sold anyway and got a syndicate of lads put together. It's great for them and I'm delighted. Whatever the handicapper does he still looks like he's well enough handicapped over hurdles off 92. He should win another one you'd imagine.
6 for Elliott and Lucky 63 landed
He's a nice horse. A big galloping horse and a three-mile chaser in the making,. I was delighted to hear there was something to make the running in the race and told Lisa to roll along upsides in front. She is a great bit of stuff. She's very lucky for Gigginstown and they are very good to her. I wouldn't say we'll go for another bumper. I think we'll go jumping hurdles with him straight away. It's a great day and I can't believe it. Any day you have one winner is great so to have that many winners, I can't believe it. We were having breakfast this morning and Simon (McGonagle) my head man, Mouse (O'Ryan) and Tom Howley said they were doing a lucky 63. Four of us done it. It only cost 63 quid and we all got a few quid out of it.
