Geraghty reflects on Leopardstown rides Barry Geraghty was never happy with Ivanovich Gorbatov at any stage on Saturday when the youngster disappointed in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. So impressive on his hurdling debut, he was odds-on to win the Grade One and was a short ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. However, Geraghty was sending out distress signals early and could only finish fourth behind three from the Willie Mullins yard. Geraghty told his At The Races blog: "I was disappointed with Ivanovich Gorbatoov in the GAIN Spring Juvenile Hurdle. It just all seemed to be happening a little too quickly for him. "They went a stronger pace than they did on his hurdling debut when he was so impressive, and he was never really happy. "I'd love to think that Ivanovich Gorbatov will be better on better ground, but I would have liked if he had taken me into the race for longer even on that soft ground. "He is still entitled to go for the Triumph Hurdle of course, I just hope that he will be better on better ground. Saturday's race was a good race though, I'd say the Irish juveniles this year are a good bunch." Geraghty also chose the wrong JP McManus horse in the Irish Gold Cup, with Gilgamboa beaten a long way by Carlingford Lough, who took full advantage of the last-fence mishap of Valseur Lido. "Gilgamboa never really travelled in the Irish Gold Cup, he was just workmanlike the whole way," said Geraghty. "I was delighted for the boss, JP McManus, that he won it with Carlingford Lough, for the second year in a row, and for John Kiely and for Mark Walsh. "Mark deserves to have good winners like that. Looking from behind on the run to the final fence, there was only going to be one winner, Carlingford Lough was so strong going to the last."
