Going - Yielding, yielding to soft in places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €1,707.94 Dividend - €15.30 Winning Units - 78.14. Placepot Pool - €56,365.79 Dividend - €10.80 Winning Units - 3625.49. Days Aggregate - €160,669.31 Last Year €133,207.13
Allegorie De Vassy survives first-flight blunder to win readily
Maybe it was my fault as I said to Paul to let her go from the start and she was too exuberant at the first - I don't think he'll be listening to me again!. Paul thinks it was pure exuberance and he was letting her roll down to the fence rather than pulling her together and asking her. She went off right but he gathered her together more after that. I think it was a one-off and she didn't get a jump this week as our jumping area was frozen. She was just too fresh and exuberant but settled into it nicely and confirmed what she showed at Limerick. What impressed me at Limerick was that she was able to jump so well out of the heavy ground - most horses can't keep that up for 2m4f but she did, against good opposition. I'm very pleased today and doubt she'll run before Cheltenham although will have a school somewhere, maybe after the Dublin Racing Festival or the week after that. At the moment the mares' chase (at Cheltenham) is where she'll go.
Fakir D'oudairies makes best way home in Thurles Grade 2
He got a little lost around the turn and was galloping down the straight, but obviously the horse in front fell, although we were coming for a challenge anyway. I was very pleased with the performance and pleased with how he jumped and it sets him up nicely for the spring. He was giving away weight and I feel as he is getting older, it is taking a bit more work to get him there. He is a young horse, and over his career, has been fantastic and always runs his race. He tries and is a great horse to have in the yard. Today's race was a good one, they went a good gallop and it was a deep field so I'm very pleased. He will potentially go back to Ascot for the Grade 1 he won last year and then we'll look at the Ryanair Chase and Aintree. I suppose all those options will be left open.
Stumptown enjoys conditions in Thurles
We fancied him the last day in Punchestown, but he never jumped. He jumped the first couple, but then missed nearly every fence after that. For a horse who didn't jump, he wasn't beaten that far. A bit of better ground helped today and he jumped well. He had plenty of light at this fences and he gave him a smashing ride. Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him as after he won his maiden hurdle, he had plenty of chances without winning.
Belle The Lioness off to Cheltenham but her odds lengthen
We took our time with her here the last day and I think riding that way suits better, but that's the way we had to ride her today to get the job done. I'm delighted she won and she had to tough it out in the end. We've had a lot of fun with her and she hasn't been out of the first two for us. She got lit up by the loose horse and plenty went against her and, in a better race, the way to ride her is to take your time. On her previous run, we are going to aim for the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham - we're entitled to go and take our chance. She has done plenty already, has her black-type and will go straight there.
Mullins and Townend double up with Embassy Gardens
That was a bit more straightforward and he appreciates that step out to three miles. I imagine the way he gallops through the line, he'll take up his date in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He doesn't need a run before Cheltenham. Hopefully he stays sound and wins a nice novice race this year and he looks a real chasing type.
Mullins boots home his second winner on the card
I was finding it hard to get him fit at home so I ran him in a graded race the last day and the whole idea was I was hoping he might get a little penalty to go for the Dublin Racing Festival. I had my eye on the two-mile handicap hurdle at the DRF since Christmas. It has worked out today as he won his race, will have his penalty so will get in. He was a strange ride and we had to do that today as we didn't want to risk him falling asleep out the back. Danny said he will be away and alright in a big field, so we'll drop him in the next day. He's a half-brother to Sir Gerhard, so hopefully will continue to progress.
Ferns Lock makes it clean sweep for favourites in Thurles
He has the potential to be a serious horse and Barry (O'Neill) said he learned more today than the last day. He said Billaway eye-balled him early in the race and he panicked a bit and took a while to settle. Once he settled into a rhythm, he was pretty good and there is improvement to come. He is 17 hands, is a huge tank and after Fairyhouse we gave him a break but put on about 50 kilos! Then I had to try and get it off him and was panicking. He is a horse for next year and won't go away - the Tetratema (at Gowran Park) will be one of his main aims. I definitely won't send him to Cheltenham as he might be run off his head and it could scare the life out of him. What this horse has over my other three hunter chasers (Vaucelet, Winged Leader and Ultimate Optimist) is a serious kick of gear. He has the potential to be top class and we've always held him in the highest regard.
