Going - Yielding. Overcast with showers
Jackpot Pool - €1,949.74 Not Won. Carried forward to Cork on Saturday 3rd May. Placepot Pool - €82,612.78 Dividend - €5,789.70 Winning Units - 10.04. Days Aggregate - €493,678.49 Last Year
Fountain House completes Cross Country double for McCarthy
We brought him to Ballinesker Beach in Wexford after he won on Tuesday and it is lovely for the likes of this horse to freshen them up. We bring them for a little walk up to their knees which is good for them. We wouldn't have run him unless we knew he was 100% and we'll get him home now and mind him. There are a few weeks left in the point-to-point season but we'll do what is right by the horse. We will have to look for these races and possibly the La Touche next year for him. Poor Eoin Mahon has done all the work with this horse but unfortunately is injured this week. We have the got the best of Rob James' 7lb claim this week and this is absolutely brilliant.
Uncle Pat off the mark over fences under well judged Townend ride
Uncle Pat had been running consistently well and was good today. He had run well in the National Trial, and in a maiden hurdle, here and obviously likes the place. He ran well in the Ulster National recently and those extended trips suit him really well and he also likes good ground. The lads have said that the middle of the course is more watered, so going either on the inside or outside was the place to be. The fresher ground is on the outside although Paul (Townend) said he was flat out in the early part of the race but stayed going at the pace he was comfortable at. A lot of horses don't stay those extended trips but our two (Uncle Pat and runner-up Fishery Lane) do. Today was the grand plan, as was the Ulster Nation and the National Trial!
Barry Lyndon lands Pat Taaffe for Slevin and McLoughlin
He isn't a winter-ground horse and wants nice ground so he obviously got it there today. It makes a big difference to him and he wouldn't carry 12 stone either, so it was grand only having 10st 8lb today. JJ (Slevin) said there is a good pot in him and we'll look at some of those Nationals now and could bring him to England. Today was the plan so now we'll work on the next one. any winner is nice and we had a lean enough winter, so to win a race with the 'Taaffe' name on it is great. My father was the first person to win on Arkle in 1962 and was a lucky man. He was one of four to win on Arkle, along obviously with Pat Taaffe. I wouldn't have many winter horses and have more nicer-ground ones so hopefully they're starting to click now. It is a great festival, I've been watched it on television all week and there have been great crowds. It is nice when it works out well although I'm on chemotherapy myself at the moment, but am getting through it well.
Place De La Nation upsets big two in Mares Champion Hurdle
She has been knocking on the door being placed at Cheltenham and in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse, so is a high-class mare. That said, she did need the other two (stablemate Jade De Grugy and Wodhooh) to cut each other's throat's and that probably is what happened. We thought it would be hard to go up against the geldings in the novice race and while we had been trying to split up our runners, she wasn't qualified to run in the Listed mares' novice hurdle. This then looked the race she had the best chance of winning. I thought it was a great run by Jade De Grugy but I think Paul (Townend, her rider) and Jack (Kennedy, on Wodhooh) probably ended up almost taking each other out. Danny got the fractions race, as he always does, and is lethal in that second-string role.
Walsh lands Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on Saratoga
We went a good gallop over the first four hurdles and, the boys just slowed it down down the back. This lad was travelling so easily, he made a mistake at the first down the back, so I just pulled him out for light as this hurdles. Once he had a bit of light, he was winging hurdles. We hoped he would do that and he has obviously proven himself. To win any race at the Punchestown festival is great but to win a first Grade 1 here is unbelievable, I'm over the moon. Alan Crowe recommended buying the horse through his job in Ballydoyle and Dad (Christy) convinced JP to buy him. Alan was first-jockey to Dad for years and told us if we could buy this horse, to do so. We take whatever horses we get from JP every year and I'm delighted for him, as he has always been there. In total, we only have ten or 12 jump horses and six or seven Flat ones so I'd love to get more and further outside owners. I haven't a clue where he runs next!
Hello Neighbour steps up in trip to win for Cromwell
He deserved that as he has been trying hard all year. It can be a tough year stepping up for those juveniles and it was his first time stepping up to that trip but he was a Grade 1 winner and has that bit of class.
Durkan family appropriately wins Punchestown Charity Race
it was a nice buzz and was special to do it on our own horse trained at home. Punchestown has a very special place in the heart of the Durkan family and John was very much embedded in the racing industry. For a Durkan family member to get across the line at Punchestown, whether in a charity race or another race, is special. I have ridden in the Corinthian Challenge and twice in this race. I actually have a picture on the wall at home of myself as a 16-year-old with three-and-a-half stone of lead riding in another charity race in Ballinrobe. I'm at the other end of the scale now though. He had trouble settling last year so we took him back a bit and fair play to Gary Bannon (assistant trainer), who wanted to keep him for a novice for next season, by coming here. This was a pipe opener for him and it worked out well in the end. Gary and all the lads in the yard do a tremendous job and we've had 20 winners this year, which is phenomenal for a small yard.
