Going - Heavy, soft to heavy in places. Raining
Jackpot Pool - €3,332.38 Dividend - €483.40 Winning Units - 6.53. Placepot Pool - €23,255.94 Dividend - €11.10 Winning Units - 1453.59. Days Aggregate - €146,339.23 Last Year €98,903.98
Noonan rides out claim aboard Kilbrin Rocco
His run at Limerick (runner-up last month) was lovely and solid and, if he came forward at all, he'd have won today's race which wasn't the best on paper. He is a lovely straightforward horse and jumps really well. His jumping was a big asset today and he'll stay chasing. Gaps always open up on heavy ground at Clonmel and Gary was very good on him. That is Gary's claim gone and he rode his first winner as a professional for me here some years ago.
I Walked The Line up and running for team Mullins
He is brilliant to jump, made one mistake which was my fault - but I liked him. We finished a long way clear of the third. We have been trying to replace Billaway and I had Cause For Comment last year who didn't quite measure up, so I got this horse and I'm hoping to make him into a Billaway-type horse. Being by Walk In The Park attracted me to him, as I love those, and he is for sale to stay in the yard. Cormac Doyle, who is fairly sharp, recommended him strongly and said he was weak in his first few runs before winning a point to point on his fourth start. I'll look to a winners' of one hunters chase next and maybe aim him for the Ladies Cup at Punchestown then and afterwards to Stratford. Next year, as a six-year-old, I'd hope to work towards Cheltenham.
Santo Sospir knows where the winning post is
He is going the right way, but is still a baby and is learning. Jack said the further he went, the better he got. In fairness, he was gutsy and galloped the whole way to the line. He probably wants 2m4f but, with the conditions, we decided to come here. He is down the pecking order for Cheltenham, but I'm sure there are races to be won with him and we might look for a rated novice next.
Radiator Springs on right route in Clonmel
I'm delighted for the lads (South Ros Racing Syndicate) who have been great supporters of ours and had Annexation with us previously. We've always had a bit of luck, thankfully, and fair play to Colin Bowe who recommended this mare to us. She wasn't overly expensive, so it's great. It is nice to see her back up her first run (third in Naas) for us and we'll see what the handicapper thinks and see from there.
Mullins' at double with King Of Aces
I bought this horse as I thought I might win the WillowWarm Gold Cup (Fairyhouse) on his half-brother Ile Atlantique later that same day, but fell off him, which wasn't a great start! . I was a big fan of Ile Atlantique and while he has been disappointing, is still a 150-horse. This fellow was very good in a point-to-point, is a fine big chasing type, and Aidan Fitzgerald recommended him strongly. He is quite exciting and isn't slow. Again, he is for sale to stay in the yard and to me he could be a Thyestes or Paddy Power-type of horse down the line. I thought he might grind out a win today but he showed gears. Conor (Glennon, part owner) is a friend who came to me and asked me to buy a horse so we found this, which is his first one. He is enjoying it.
O'Keeffe brings up his brace on Our Uncle Jack
I walked the track beforehand and thought the inside was the best place to go as it was deeper the more you went wide. He had been running on better ground at the end of last season, but the softer ground suits him better. He was always a very, very good work horse but, when he puts it together he is good, although he is only sport at this stage. He had a couple of very good runs, won at Tramore, and possibly with some luck he could have won a bumper. He had been a small bit inconsistent, but hopefully if we can keep him the way he is, he might pick up another one. He has age but is lightly raced and he'll stay going for another while.
The Little Yank a significant winner for Aherne
It is great for John Aherne, and The Little Yank is a bit of a legend. He got a very bad fall one year at Listowel which ruined him, but he appears to be coming back to his best and is well handicapped if he does so. He won two bumpers, was a proper horse and Fr Shane Casey (part owner) loves running him and my daughter Gillian is the horse's other owner. He has come back down to a winnable mark recently and we're looking forward to the summer now. He beat Ash Tree Meadow (Galway Plate winner) by nine lengths once, is a proper little horse, and not too many win over €180,000 in prize money like him.
