Going - Good - Yielding (Good after R2). Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 164.71 Not Won. Carried forward to Navan on Saturday 16th May. Placepot Pool - 14,432.41 Dividend - 692.50 Winning Units - 14.6. Days Aggregate - 132,888.68 Last Year 90,388.91
Figero strikes at 20/1 in Kilbeggan's opener
This time last year we said he was a right horse and he’d win a bumper. He got balloted out of a few bumpers and we decided to give him a break. We brought him back for the winter but he doesn’t like soft ground, he’s a summer horse. He ran disappointing in two bumpers and we put it down mainly to the ground. We thought he didn’t stay and I’d say that’s as far as he wants it, two miles. He’s a great jumper, loves it, and jumped brilliantly. I’d say the ground was the whole thing for him and he grew up a bit in the meantime as well. He won’t be running in the winter again. He’s a fighter as well. He’s a nice horse at home and we did fancy him to win a bumper, and he would have on good ground but time was running out and we saw this race. It’s for horses that weren’t placed after two runs so we said we’d crack on and go for it. We’ll maybe look for a novice now and I think he’ll win a mile-and-a-half maiden on the Flat. We’ll celebrate this first and then see what happens.
Malbay strikes again at Kilbeggan
He had a good run the last day and improved from it,. Paddy said he crept into it quietly. He missed the third-last, but he said he grabbed a hold of it again and away with him. I’m delighted for Paddy as well, as he got a bad injury last year in America and missed four months. It’s great to get him started again, as he’s with me a good while. I’ve a lot of summer horses and they seem to like top of the ground, long may it last. This fella likes here for some reason, he’s after winning three here now. We’ll have to keep bringing him back here.
Nolan should have some Sport with Kilbeggan debut winner
I’m delighted. We were hoping that he’d improve from that,. said Nolan. It didn’t look likely for a while, but Sean said he responded when he got after him. He’s a horse that has been a little bit keen and we were focused on settling him. Then, when he settled, he’s not that quick at the back of it.
Faceman bounces back over timber
It was a toss of a coin whether we’d go for this or the chase today,. He was unlucky the last day (fell in Tramore). He was jumping great, but just reached for a fence and it was one of those things. Thankfully he was okay after it. We wanted to see where we were, if we had improved over hurdles. This family improves with time and you don’t really know at home as he only shows x amount. I’m delighted for the lads (John and Michael Bowe), they are great supporters of mine and we’re having great luck together. He’s a lovely horse to have anything to do with and of course he’s out of the great mare (Solerina). I’d say he’ll mix and match it during the summer.
Winters looking to next winter with improving Briggs
She’s a good mare, she’s big and scopey. . In fairness to these small tracks around the country, they do a great job and we’re delighted to be able to come up. We got great word on the track from the last meeting, and the agent Gary Cribbin told us we’d be guaranteed that type of ground. My career is shoving on a bit now and we’re lucky to come across a mare like her. She’s actually a homebred. We produced the mother for the lads (Going Stone Mad Syndicate) and they went to Harzand themselves with her. I told the boys that we’ll surely be heading for some kind of a race in the likes of Cheltenham in maybe December. She has the scope to do it anyway, her jumping is something else.
Molloy's Littlefoot is 'all heart and guts'
I’m delighted with the little man, he’s all heart and guts. He was flat to the mat but his jumping kept him in it. He’s a small little horse but he wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s owned by a group of friends based in America and over here and he’s been great fun for everyone. He’s always liked a bit of nicer ground. We’ll think about stepping him up in trip, somewhere along the way. Hopefully we’ll find another spot for him.
Ginger swoops late for Shine in the bumper
The owner was very lucky with his half-brother, Dromore Lad, and this lad is obviously going the right way. He’s not over-big but he’s improving the whole time. We’ll see now if Frank sells him or keeps him, he’s a nice little one to have. He battled well and I’m delighted with him. On his first run, Heather (Heffernan - partner) rode him and he was obviously very green. His second run was on very heavy ground in Limerick, which I didn’t think he’d handle. He’s learning as he goes and improving, which is good. We should have plenty of fun with him.