Going - Soft. Overcast with rain
Maxxum makes winning return to chasing
He is a good horse but it has been hard to place him,. It is a long time since he has jumped a fence and the owners weren't that keen to run him back over fences but being so hard to place over hurdles, I convinced them to run here today. . He did it well, jumped well and stayed galloping. I'm delighted with the way he jumped. He is a great horse and now that he is back winning over fences, we will continue to pot hunt with him. Dee Capo ran a lovely race, he was a bit sticky early on after his run in Cheltenham and he hit the line well, so I was happy. Danny (Gilligan, jockey) said it was a bit sharp around here for him.
Haarth Rocs on over fences
Kaiser rules supreme in 'unplaced' maiden
I was surprised by the rating he got (119) from his Navan run but the fact he had run more than twice qualified him for today's race, which was an ordinary one,. Today's runner-up was having his first run over hurdles so he had the experience over him and jumps very well. He had finished second in a point-to-point near here in Turtulla and all-in-all it was a step forwards from his previous runs. We had been riding him wrong and not making enough use of him. . He gives horses 'leads' schooling over hurdles at home and had his ears pricked today, looking for the next jump. It was straightforward and we might give him one more run before the summer.
Well-bred Alliance makes winning debut
She has been struggling on the heavy sand at home so we were worried about the ground,. To be honest, I'd say it was a very low grade race although she was tough. She surprised me so we won't complain. It is a boost for her owner Judith Matthews who came out of hospital yesterday, so it is nice to give her a winner. She has horses with us for the last few years so it is great.
Rock given rousing reception
Blue strikes for Byrnes on handicap debut
He is a fine-sized horse but apparently isn't bred to get two miles. The ground isn't bad today, there's no depth to it and actually he ran very well the first day for us,. We were happy with his handicap mark off that Fairyhouse run because he had run too free then, so had the hood on to settle him. He was a bit disappointing on heavy ground afterwards but on this first run (at Fairyhouse), we thought he had every chance today. His owner John Lane, a farmer from Bartlemy near Fermoy, has been with me on-and-off for a long, long time and is involved with his sister and a friend. They had a few quid on each-way, but I don't bet at all. The four-year-olds got 8lb today and he'll tip away in more handicaps now.
