Going - Chase: soft. Hurdle/bumper: soft, yielding in places.. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €1,291.09 Dividend - €88.30 Winning Units - 10.23. Placepot Pool - €40,339.98 Dividend - €20.80 Winning Units - 1356.81. Days Aggregate - €196,528.33 Last Year €212,868.00
Captain Guinness lands Grade 3 BetVictor Chase
I was worried about the ground but it looked like a good opportunity and he stayed at it well. Rachael walked the track, was where she wanted to be and she was spot on, fair play to her. We decided we'd give Cheltenham a miss this year and have a go at this and luckily it worked out. I'm delighted to see him win another one. Once we switched out of the Champion Chase, today was the day and I'll speak to Declan (Landy, owner) now. We were toying with the idea of stepping him up to 2m4f at Aintree and the Webster Cup is an option, but is less than two weeks away. Unfortunately he had been on the same course as Energumene as a novice but he's only a young horse and I'm sure we'll head over to Cheltenham next year.
De Bromhead & Blackmore double up with Gabbys Cross
He was a bit disappointing the last day in Fairyhouse so we took the hood off and it might have gone the other extreme - we might have to put it back on. He really tanked with Rachael and rumour has it he jumped a fence on the way to the start, but she settled him. I was complaining about his handicap mark beforehand, so it just shows why I'm not a handicapper. Before the race I was trying to get him back on track but since he's won, I'm thinking about the 2m5f novice handicap chase at the Punchestown festival for him. Roger (Brookhouse, owner) always likes coming over there so it might be a nice race for him.
Flame Bearer burns off rivals for the Doyles
He was very fresh and unfit the first day he ran this season because we had no ground to gallop him on and was then a little unlucky here. He is now doing what we thought he would do. Jack believes he is a two-mile horse but he didn't get him pulled up until halfway down the back, so I'd say he is a 2m4f horse. But we'll stick with Jack's opinion for the moment and he'll go to Fairyhouse (Grade 2 novice hurdle on April 3). The plan was always this race and Fairyhouse and we'll see about Punchestown then. It is working out so far. He is bred to get a mile, being out of a Docksider mare but when I saw him at the Derby Sale, I couldn't come home without him - he had the biggest walk I have ever seen in a horse and I love Fame And Glorys. He'll make a lovely chaser. This course has been lucky for me and I've won two Grade 3s and one Grade 2 here.
Fitzgerald seen to good effect as Justicialism wins again
He has improved after the last run, the ground seemed to help him and Shane was brilliant on him. He was flat to the boards early on but he left him work his way into it. We'll mind him, stick to handicap company and he'll get further in time. Shane was so good on him. They went so quick and he was flat to the boards but I knew they would come back. He was so cool and sat and got there on time. The win was due to the jockey more than the trainer!
Highland Charge overcomes scare to win div 1
He nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but came back again. He made a right hash of it (the last) and Sean said there was no real stride there. He was lucky as he nearly went down. Sean says he wants real soft ground, you couldn't get it soft enough for him and coming up the straight it was nearly too good for him. He is a chaser for next season, we'll try and find a winners' race now and see where we go from there.
Supreme Novice an option for Bring On The Night
I have him a long time and he had a setback last year and we never got him on to the track. He is in the Supreme Novice and could easily go there. We said if he was going to make it, he had to go today and be good enough. We think he'll improve a fair bit from that. He has to brush up on his jumping a bit but I think he will as he jumps better at home. He is a 90 plus rated horse on the flat but Paul said he knew well how to jump - he said he knew his job once he got him down to gallop. Marie and Joe (Donnelly) have State Man in the Supreme as well, maybe we'll run the two or find another option for State Man as this horse has no other options. We think he is a good sort and will make a great dual purpose horse. We could appear back on the flat with him during the summer.
Palace Rock regains the winning thread for Casey
On another day he might have won the last day and to win is great. I didn't know if he'd go on the heavy ground but it wasn't as heavy and was tacky, although his mother wanted it bottomless. I thought the world of this horse and always thought he was my best horse but the other horse (Max Flamingo) seems to be better. He had been frustrating but works very well and has shown it now. He doesn't go right-handed and even today he needed a rail. He could come back here or otherwise go to Aintree.
Music Drive upsets the odds in Naas bumper
He is a grand, nice honest horse who put his head out and it is great for David (Barnard) who has a couple of horses with us now. He is very lucky and every thing he seems to be touching is winning and he is having a bit of craic so I'm delighted. He is more of a 2m4f horse down the road, wouldn't mind a bit of nicer ground and we'll keep him for Fairyhouse.
