Going - Yielding to Soft (Soft after 2nd race). Fine and cold
Jackpot Pool - €14,460.47 Dividend - €2,530.50 Winning Units - 4. Placepot Pool - €49,474.06 Dividend - €15.80 Winning Units - 2185.85. Pick Six Pool - €37,312.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Leopardstown on Sunday 22nd January. Days Aggregate - €162,342.00 Last Year €167,488.00
Thirsty Work left clear at last in opener
That was a nice stepping stone, and hopefully he can go for another one like this next time. I think he had the measure of the other horse at the last, although he did very little up the hill. He’s very laid back. He’ll make a smashing chaser, and will get further which is great. There is a novice rated hurdle up to 130 coming up which would be ideal for him. We’ll take little steps for the moment. The three-mile novice handicap later on at Fairyhouse could be a race for him.
Jezki returns in style at Navan
Barry said he took a blow going down the back and just blew up a bit after the second last. He jumped super and you couldn’t ask for anymore. We had him kind of ready at Christmas and then he had a setback. Every time you go you are worried that you haven’t done enough or too much or he hasn’t got his spark still. He was very settled there today and was really, really good. I’ll have to talk with Frank (Berry) and JP to see where we go next. Most likely he will need another run so he could go for the Red Mills. I think he gets in there with no penalties. I think on soft ground we would be better going two miles and not bottoming him out. He could still do a job over two miles but we know he stays three, so we have options. As long as he’s sound in the morning, that’s the main thing.
Yaha shows plenty of Fizz in front
He’s just coming to himself. It has taken time but he settles now. He’ll have a few more runs over hurdles and then go back chasing. He was just unlucky a few times.
Jersey jumps to it at third attempt
He’s still got a bit to learn about his jumping. Its slow improvement but is improving. That was two and a half (miles) and he could even go out to three which might be easier for him. He shows us plenty at home and maybe he’s a horse that wants fences. Some of those horses that don’t have any regard for hurdles are better over fences. He shows me that he has a good engine at home, and maybe we are just getting the hang of the right tactics for him. The cheek-pieces just helped him to jump. He will get an Albert Bartlett entry but we’ll have a chat with the owners before we make any decision. Un De Sceaux definitely heads to Cheltenham next Saturday. It’s good that the BHA and Cheltenham were able to get together and reorganise the race. Whiteout should be able to make the race in Huntingdon, and Alelchi Inois goes for the cross country race in Cheltenham.
Swift victory for birthday boy Nicholson
It’s great for the lads who own her. They are a new syndicate from Tipperary. We will find something similar for her.
Acapella makes all for Hughes/Loughran
He was very good today and probably just idled a bit in front. We took the hood off him as we felt he doesn’t need it any more. He’s a bit older and a bit wiser, and the fire is back in the belly which is great. His jumping was very good, and more testing ground and going a bit further will suit him. I’m not sure where he will go next but he is very ground dependant. Unless Cheltenham came up soft we would be giving it a miss. He might go for the 2m5f Scalp Novice in Leopardstown next month, and we’ll hope it keeps pouring rain between now and then. There is also a three-mile race back here. He needs three to four weeks between races so we will do what is best for him but he will step up to Graded company next time.
Chimney towers over rivals in finale
He likes doing it that way and he had a light weight. He’s had three or four runs fairly quick so we may give him a bit of a break. There are not too many two-mile chases coming up in that grade.
