Going - Good To Yielding (Hdle/bumper), Good (Chase). Fine
Jackpot Pool - €10,000.00 Dividend - €44.10 Winning Units - 158.59. Placepot Pool - €70,776.07 Dividend - €45.70 Winning Units - 1082.4. Pick Six Pool - €20,000.00 Dividend - €551.10 Winning Units - 25.4. Days Aggregate - €376,969.00 Last Year
Jade just brilliant in Irish Champion Hurdle
I thought I gave her too much time between Christmas and Cheltenham last year. There is no other race she'd could run in here, not unless she went for a novice chase and we weren't going to do that!. A lot of credit has to go to Michael O'Leary and Gigginstown for running the mare here today because it was a big ask for her to come back to two miles. These are the type of horses you want at these festivals. There was no other race to suit her and they were ballsy enough to bring her back and run her over two miles. It was great. Whatever happens now we can enjoy the weekend as you put yourself under so much pressure coming here. To have two Grade 1s here it doesn't matter what happens the rest of the weekend.
McManus colours dominate in Labrokes Hurdle
He was a bit further back than we would have liked but he settled him beautifully through the race. They sprinted and he came home strong. He’s a good horse to win off that weight today. We’ll probably stick him in the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and it’s up to the Martinstown team then what they want to do. He will go over fences next season.
Allen knuckles down well to take Grade 2 prize
He's a nice horse. Jamie said he couldn't pull him up, he said it was the start of the back straight before he could pull him up. He looks a very exciting horse. He's obviously in the Cheltenham bumper and I'll have to talk to the owners. He could have been very vulnerable there today on a track like that but he showed that he's a good horse. He's a galloper and he wanted to get him into a rhythm early, we didn't want to force him from flag-fall. He got into a nice rhythm and he was very good. I think the horse that went through the rail is going to be a nice horse as well.
Easy for Min as Tiara death mars Dublin Chase
It was unfortunate to lose Henry's horse early on. With the first and last fence out I'm not sure it told us much,. I was delighted with my fella, he ran up to form. I think he got a fright when Castlegrace Paddy fell and didn't jump the next few fences, especially the first down the back he just propped at it and stopped. He said if he keeps doing that he's probably out of the race. Ruby got him jumping then and got him into a rhythm down the back and it was only a matter of waiting until he got over the last and giving him the office to go, which he did. He has the pace for two miles and he can go out to two-and-a-half and maybe even an extra furlong or two as well. When he's on song, and he jumps well, he can gain ground in the air and keep his position. He has a lot of doors open for him. I'm very happy to win today and that's as far as I'm thinking. That's good, Rich is over for the race as well and we're very happy. Footpad and Min can both go out in trip or run over two miles. We should be able to keep them apart. I'm more concerned about getting some proper winter weather for some of these racetracks, and Cheltenham as well. We keep saying it'll come but it hasn't come. I'm more concerned about ground than keeping them apart. The Red Mills is an option (for Footpad). A lot of people are looking at the Red Mills, Presenting Percy included so that could be a real good race, it could be the race of the season.
Richebourg grabs another Leopardstown Grade 1
He jumped well on the whole and when he had to clever he was. Mark gave him a lovely ride and he was very cool on him,. There was a bit of drama throughout the race. I was delighted he was able to avoid that and he put in a good round of jumping. They went strong and fast and it tested a lot of horses' jumping. He was good an clever at the last. Obviously he made a little mistake at the last here at Christmas and it was good to see him learn from that. A bit of nice ground is important to him. He was a good hurdler, he was fifth in the Galway Hurdle and we were a bit disappointed with him but the form of the race has worked out unbelievably well since. He's very exciting and I'm delighted. He's won over two-and-a-half so he can go two-and-a-half. It think he needs a strong pace and we'll stick at two for the time being. We'll see how he comes out of it but the Arkle now would make a lot of sense. It's going to be an even bigger test there and there'll probably go even faster. I couldn't be happier and winning a Grade 1 is massive. Us And Them ran a cracker and he jumps well. He's an outstanding jumper and would have a chance of going to the Arkle as well. Aintree might suit him too. We'll see how they come out of it and make a plan then.
Quamino lunges late in finale
His jumping was very good today and he learned an awful lot from the last day,. He was foot perfect today. They went a fierce gallop and he made good ground at vital stages down the back to get himself into it. If he had missed any of those he would have been out of contention and wouldn't have won. He was foot perfect at every fence and winged the last as well. The jumps were an asset to him today and he galloped well to the line and thankfully got up. He'll be entered in the novice handicap at Cheltenham. He'd probably want to be 141/142 but it's not the be all and end all. Today was a very important day and I'm delighted he won for the owners. I thought when he won his beginners chase 129 was stiff enough and then he went up few pounds for Naas. In fairness to him he's consistent and his jumping has improved. Physically he's getting stronger. We thought he might not be quick enough over two miles but he is. It seems to be his ideal trip.
