Going - Heavy. Overcast and showers
Jackpot Pool - €2,268.41 Not Won. Carried forward to Dundalk on Friday 26th January. Placepot Pool - €26,910.89 Dividend - €52.70 Winning Units - 357.38. Days Aggregate - €174,346.97 Last Year
Champagne celebrations for de Bromhead after opener
Cody in control on hurdling debut
He jumped a bit rusty at times but when it counted, over the last two, was very good. He seems to love this heavy ground, Jody will be delighted to get a win on him and it's onwards and upwards for him now.
Monkfish back in the winners' enclosure
he hasn't missed any training and we just hadn't got him out so we were happy his fitness would hold up. We thought he was a Gold Cup horse once upon a time but that is a great start to his season and hopefully can build on it now. We were supposed to start him at Tramore on New Year's Day but he got a little bang so we decided to wait for this. He is in the Gold Cup and Stayers Hurdle but all options are open and it will be a case of what race suits, when he is ready. . We won't rush him back and Cheltenham is only seven weeks away so he'll probably go straight there. The decision regarding which race he runs in will be a Willie special. Ruth Dudfield does a fantastic job in keeping him sound and we'll just hope he is ok in the morning. Touch wood, at his age, he will stand up to it.
Shame repays Blackmore's faith in Thyestes
Tactical opens chasing account to give Mullins treble
Donnelly rides first winner after dramatic finish
It was a very good feeling although I briefly mistook the winning line before thinking 'I may go again'!. I'm was very happy that I got the ride from JP (McManus) and Enda, I'm absolutely delighted. Luke has been with us six months, is bred to be a jockey and must be some judge! That's just his second ride over hurdles. Would you believe it, Champagne Platinum beat the horse that just won the Thyestes (Ain't That A Shame) at Navan in 2022, so it took a long time between drinks. Today's race cut up, he ran well in a Pertemps Qualifier the last day and he was racing against lesser horses. We tried him a couple of times in banks racing but the horse isn't in love with it and the ground is a big factor for him.
Samyr caps fine day for Robcour
It was a nice performance and I'm delighted for Brian and Rob (Acheson, owners). It is my first runner in the Robcour colours and he obviously was bought to go on the flat. Alex Elliott bought him for Brian as a yearling but he had a couple of setbacks so Brian decided we'd wait for his four-year-old bumper campaign. We might reap the rewards of that going forwards. I was worried about the ground but decided to let him take his chance and there's no doubt he will be better on better ground. He is a good looking, well-bred horse and there is no doubt he could go back to the flat at some stage. It was a smart performance and we'll see what Brian and the team want to do now.
