Boodles-bound Eagle Fang delivers in notable Naas race

we thought he would have won his maiden by now, but he’s bumped into a few smart horses. We freshened him up and came here and the Boodles has been the plan with him. He’s a lovely horse for the future and stepping up in trip he’ll be a nice horse next year. He’s tough, not your typical Flat horse and doesn’t do a whole pile at home. We’d like to see a bit of rain for Cheltenham, and he should get into the race now.

Big festivals await Answer To Kayf

we gave Answer To Kayf an entry in the Albert Bartlett and I was also thinking of going for the Martin Pipe - we’ll see how he comes out of today. Eighteen months ago he couldn’t win a novice riders’ maiden in Wexford. He had a lot of problems with his hocks and was lame after his maiden hurdle run in Killarney last year, when beaten 24 lengths. He was then put out on grass and came in sound and hasn’t taken a lame step since. He’s twice the horse he was. It’s great as Denis (O’Connor, owner) has been a great supporter. He’s really patient and it’s great that it has paid off for him. we always hoped after his Limerick run that he’d be good enough to win this but when I saw Willie’s two in it, I was worried. He jumped really well and hit the line well. He did everything that I hoped and more. There is a great prize for the Final of this Series in Punchestown and I suppose that is probably the main aim. Whether we take in Cheltenham in the meantime we’ll see how he comes out of this. I’d say he’s flexible in terms of trip. He’s not a slow horse and I didn’t think he was stopping there at the finish. Johnny’s 7lb claim was obviously a big help today and we’ll see what the handicapper does with him after this.

Bowe family jump aboard another bandwagon

we jumped on the Harry Kelly bandwagon! . He’s a seriously good trainer. he got a good ride and it’s been a great week. I said to Carl going out ‘don’t let it turn into a sprint’ and as the old cliché goes he’ll make a great chaser. He gallops away on loose reins and it’s just pure stamina. To look at him he has the model of a chaser.

Winner-winner for trainer and his claimer

in fairness Whiskeywealth was going to do that in Thurles the day he fell. Maybe we overfaced him going for the Dan Moore (Chase) - they maybe went a half-stride too fast, but I still think he ran below par that day. I still think he’s a better horse over fences. If you look at his form last year (when falling at Fairyhouse) he jumped the last a length in front of Dinoblue. Maybe she’d have beaten him but that was savage form and I still think there is a good prize in him. He might go for the Shamrock (Handicap Chase) at Gowran (on March 9).

Success for classy De Vassy in Opera Hat Chase

that was a better performance especially considering how badly she jumped over the first four fences. She just wasn’t herself and it took her until about the fourth-last before she really started to jump and then she got into a rhythm and flew. We might have been lucky that the two in front took each other on. It might not have been as flashy as we thought it was. I’m happy enough with how she’s run, and she’ll go for the Mares Chase at Cheltenham.

Billaway busted in five-timer bid

Its On The Line isn't good for the heart but there’s loads of ability in there, it's just a matter of coaxing it out of him. He looked a sitting duck for the fast-finishing horse (Billaway), but picked up and went again. He’s a tough cookie and hopefully cheek pieces might help for the big day (at Cheltenham) the next day. He was second there last year and will go there again.

Well-backed Triomphe lands Naas finale