Going - Soft to Heavy. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €2,470.05 Dividend - €25.30 Winning Units - 68.23. Placepot Pool - €42,155.10 Dividend - €25.00 Winning Units - 1176.99.
Listen lands local Gowran gamble
he had form in the past but got a slight little injury. We got him back at Cork before Christmas and were happy with him as he ran well to the second-last but got tired. With Martin (Walsh) being local, today was the plan and we had a small few quid on - I'm delighted for him. his form in the past was on better ground but the fact it was the first race today helped. He stuck at it well, was back to a rating of 95 today and had worked well with Optional Mix the other day. He is handicapped over fences too and jumps well
Hands Of Gold shines bright in Gowran Park
He is a grand horse, is a big baby and was a June foal and is developing mentally and physically. This race was ideal for him and he had a nice time since Limerick where he ran well. We bought him in the Landrover Sale thanks to J.P. (McManus), he has kept growing and will make a nice chaser. We thought the step up in trip would suit him and it did. We'll look at the final at Punchestown (in April) and will then put him away for fences next year. Unfortunately we lost Sea Ducor at Fairyhouse recently and with the way things are, Hands Of Gold will also be my next runner.
Teahupoo endorses his Stayers' Hurdle credentials
He was good and is a good horse. He is going the right way and the plan is to go straight to Cheltenham (for the Stayers' Hurdle). It was two-miles in Cheltenham last year and I'd say this distance is the key to him - over two miles the gun is to your head the whole time. I know he was well beaten in Punchestown, but he wasn't actually beaten that far and he wasn't tailed off. At the moment we have no worries ground-wise although it (Stayers' Hurdle) is an open race too. Davy said he panicked and got there a bit soon, as he is so laid-back early but, when he gave a squeeze, he leapt back on the bridle. You'd love the way he quickened from the second-last to the line.
Townend earns plaudits for Thyestes win on Carefully Selected
It is always a great thrill to win the Thyestes, but I think that was Paul Townend's victory. The ride he gave him - he had two horses behind him with a circuit to race and kept wide out of trouble, puts huge pressure on a jockey but he loves pressure and rides better with pressure. He has been off sick the past two days but to come back and give a ride like that is a tremendous achievement and he rushed off to get a drink just now. It was as fine a ride as I ever saw around here to win a Thyestes with that sort of weight. I thought after the third-last that his winning chance had gone but he sat and sat, gave him a breather, got a good jump at the last and I thought it was fantastic riding. He was obviously very sick the last two days so to come back and ride a race like that was huge in my mind.
Mullins and Townend double up with Sir Gerhard
My heart jumped and he stood so far back at it. I hope his back is alright in the morning as he caught it and did well to stand up, and Paul did well to stay on him. But that is what novices do and it is great to make that mistake early in the race as it puts manners on the horse and he jumped fine after that. Paul thought he wasn't racing so, after the fourth-las,t sent him up and was in his hands. He had just been a bit lazy and maybe cantering around on his own on our gallop, he probably thought he was having a quiet day. We teach them, especially the staying chasers, to settle on the mornings they're not working but we were probably overdoing it. I imagine he will go to Cheltenham with very little experience and maybe just that run as I don't see anything else in the calendar for him. We might take our chance and go straight there, maybe for the 2m4f Turners chase or the three-mile race (Brown Advisory Novices' Chase) - they'll be going that bit slower and it'll give him a chance. We're not that well represented in the three-mile race yet but who knows what'll happen between now and then.
Bluebell Diva doubles her career total
She is progressing nicely and will probably get further now. The penny is starting to drop. She is a little bit quirky, but she is getting there. She has a bit to learn yet and was running around a little bit. She ran a good race in Limerick (third) and the form is working out okay. We might push her up in trip a little bit to see if she will get the three miles. She has a beautiful pedigree and is a valuable mare.
D Art D Art switches on to good effect
At one stage I thought 'jeez what's happening here, this fella must be sick or something!'. I thought it was all over, but he just is so laid-back. After the line, he went down the back and he couldn't pull him up. It was an extraordinary performance as I thought it was lights out but, whatever in the name of God, when he gave him a squeeze and a tap, he went on.
