Going - Good To Yielding - changed to Yielding after 1st (Hurdle/chase), Good To Firm (Cross Country). Overcast with threat of rain
Jackpot Pool - €24,500.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Friday 2nd May. Placepot Pool - €93,538.00 Dividend - €839.20 Winning Units - 78.01. Pick Six Pool - €43,432.75 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Friday 2nd May. Days Aggregate - €641,383.00 Last Year €837,481.22
Geraghty and Harrington take day's opener
I was actually a bit worried about the ground the last day at Kilbeggan that it would be too quick but we just needed to get his head in front. The 6lbs penalty he carried today was a bit of a bummer but he did it well. He really needs two and a half miles but they went really quick and all he was doing was staying. He had been struggling on very soft ground and he might have a break now and come back for Galway.
Mallowney scores for Doyle & Russell
I had his mother and grandmother and it's great family and he's also related to Boston Bob and Briar Hill. He travels well but he was a bit disappointing a few times and didn't find a lot off the bridle in the past. He switched off early today though and when he does that he's a proper horse and I think the hood helped him finish out his race today. He deserved that as he's been running well all year and has never been out of the money. He's a Listed winner and Grade 2 placed so we'll aim pretty high next season.
Jacks Island wins La Touche for Kenny/Fox
Ger carried instructions out to a tee today and it's the first time anybody has!
Jetson ends Quevega's World domination
we ran him here as there was no other race for him and I thought he might nick a place but didn't believe in my wildest dreams that he'd win! It's absolutely fantastic but a bit of a surprise. I said to Davy (Russell) that he has no chance but that he stays really well and is tough so to make plenty use of him. He never missed a beat over his hurdles, loves that ground and only comes to himself in the spring and was in great form today. That's only Davy's second ride for me and his first winner so I better employ him a few more times!
Off The Charts results have punters reeling
the trip suited him and the first-time visor also helped. The last day at Fairyhouse I got the impression he didn't kill himself but he carried him all the way today. Normally when you're chasing one of Willie Mullins' over the last (Urano) they don't come back but luckily he did and he stayed on well after that. He's not over big and he won't carry a huge amount of weight but hopefully he'll win another one.
On the 3rd day God creates hell - for punters!
we purposely hadn't run him in a chase since February so he'll be a novice for next season and while we had a length to find with Balder Succes on the Kempton run, we knew he was a better horse now. He's a spring horse and we were happier coming here. Barry (Geraghty) was excellent for him but I'm sorry for Paddy Brennan (injured) who had done all the work on him; he took a lot of handling as a young horse but was always very talented. He's almost half-mad and Barry said when he goes down to the last, he really wants to do it. The week hadn't really gone our way so far and I just said to Barry going out 'let's complete the course on this one'!
Morga completes treble for rampant Russell
that's superb. I haven't had a runner for maybe 15 years at the festival and it's great to have another one that's good enough. She has improved big time for her experience at Cork and she jumped superb. The others had a lot more experience than her but she's really tough and is a very good filly; I haven't had one like her since Herbert United.
Harrington flying High with poignant treble
someone 'up there' is doing a lot of pushing. I have him about ten weeks and I knew he won at Worcester but when he came to me I built him up. He has only done a couple of bits of work and while the last one was good and I was happy with him coming here, I'd no idea about the ground or things like that with him. They went a good gallop and Robbie said unless he cut out four furlongs out, he was always going to win. He didn't even hit him and it he did he'd have shot clear. Robbie said the ground was probably as quick as he'd want it and he jumps really well and is well schooled. The idea was to go hurdling but the way he won there, a mile and a half on the Flat wouldn't be out of the question.
