Going - Yielding. Overcast
Good Land justifies favouritism for Connell & O'Sullivan
We were expecting that. He was a course and distance winner at Christmas and never came out of a hack canter,. He hasn't missed a beat since then and we were very confident today. He's a quick horse and we didn't think he'd mind the ground. We only gave him one entry at Cheltenham in the Ballymore because we have the other horse for the Supreme (Marine Nationale). It couldn't have gone better, he was maybe a fraction keen over the first couple but then he got a lovely lead off Nigel's horse. He never missed a beat jumping, he got a lovely blow into him turning in. He hit the front probably plenty early and he was idling in front. I think we are still only scratching the surface with this guy. The big plus with him is that he's seven years of age. We bought him as a four-year-old from one of the point-to-point guys and gave him a run in a bumper. Then he had a few issues. It's a big advantage for these horses to have that age on their side. He's bombproof and you could see him walking around beforehand like he was at a kid's gymkhana. Marine is the same, the two of them are brilliant. We are a small operation, we have 25 horses, and we've had two entries in Grade 1s this season and won them both. He's not slow, I won the Albert Bartlett before with Martello Tower and it is quite hard on novices. I prefer the Ballymore, he could drop back to the Supreme if something happens to the other guy but I would need to supplement him.
Gala Marceau turns over Lossiemouth in dramatic juvenile
That was the disappointing part about it. Paul said to me he got done three times. I just hope it doesn't leave its mark that she had such a hard run from the third last home. She put in a huge effort for a juvenile filly and that might just leave a mark. That's what I'm really worried about and I would have been happier if Paul had maybe just been 'hands and heels'. The writing was on the wall, so what was the point in hitting her. He has to have a go to try and win but to me unless Danny's made a mistake at the last he wasn't going to get to that one.
El Fabiolo impressive in strongly-run Irish Arkle
He's just improving all the time. At the start of the year we were thinking maybe we should go out to two-and-a-half but what he did at Christmas and again today it's definitely the Arkle. You could see every horse had a chance at different stages of the race. The one negative was when we made the mistake at the fourth last but Daryl blamed himself for that, he said it wasn't the horse's fault. Then he came back on the bridle again and I thought 'this horse is travelling' and he just did everything right. They were some very good horses in second, third and fourth so to win 10 lengths in that type of a race, he's goes to Cheltenham with a real good chance.
Galopin Des Champs strides clear in Irish Gold Cup
He was very professional and Paul was happy where he was throughout the race. He was happy that he was settled coming through. He said after the race that he had plenty in the tank and he was never worried at any time during the race about where he was. He seemed to gallop away through the line. He looks a real good horse. Hopefully we can build on that now over an extra two furlongs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (7/4 fav from 11/8 with Paddy Power). I was amazed that the press were doubting the fact that he had never won over three miles over fences. He had won over three miles as a novice over hurdles which is way harder than doing it over fences. To me he can go four miles. What I love about him now is that he's settling, he's not keen and Paul is able to put him wherever he wants him in a race. That's crucial for tactics going forward. He used to be a little keen over shorter trips but now he just settles and he's able to put him asleep. I think it's just maturity, he's matured in his mind and he's settling into being a proper racehorse. We're more relaxed training him now, we know he has gears. I was always confident that he'd stay and we probably don't do as much speed work with him nowadays. We've had some fabulous horses win the Gold Cup here. This fella is making a name for himself, he's still young in steeplechasing terms and where he'll be at the end of his career, we'll see. It's all going forward at the moment anyway. A lot of people skip this race to go for Chelten
Perceval Legallois a winner for returning Walsh
He was really good, he ran well at Christmas and the horses are on fire at the moment. He travelled so sweet today. The horses have just taken a huge step forward and I'm grateful. He got the run of the race, they didn't go a wild gallop. He had a nice possy and quickened well, he just did everything well. He's qualified for the Pertemps and after winning today he'll probably get in.
Cromwell doubles up with Final Orders
He has massive scope, they are big fences around here but he just has so much scope. He loves it and is just thriving off it. He was off 140 there today and he's only 102 over hurdles so it's been a massive transformation. When we schooled him at home he jumped great, he's very clever, but he really came alive when we ran him. That's obviously the best race he's run in and Keith said it was the best feel he's given him. I don't know where we go from here, we're probably gone out of the Grand Annual now and we might have to have a look at the Arkle. We'll definitely have to consider it anyway. We went there last year with Gabynako and it's a race that if you jump really well it does bring you into the race and does give you a chance.
Gleesons Share A Dream success in the bumper
I didn't know to be honest because we haven't that much to work him with but we always liked him. We were thinking 'how good was the race in the junction' and then he seemed to struggle a little in Roscommon. Until you come out and find out here you don't know. He gave weight to the whole lot as well. We liked him and we were anxious that he would bring John Gleeson along, that's why we waited for this race. We would have gone hurdling other than that.
