Going - Yielding (yielding to soft places on hurdle track, good to yielding places on chase course). Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 1,967.77 Dividend - 454.00 Winning Units - 3.05. Placepot Pool - 26,112.02 Dividend - 4.80 Winning Units - 3785.92. Days Aggregate - 162,821.30 Last Year 172,069.03
Proactif Walsh scores on Mullins' Triumph contender
Bambino Fever delivers dominant Fairyhouse win
It was a fantastic ride by Brian. He’s a very tricky horse to ride but Brian knows him well,. He had good class bumper form and hurdle form, he’s just a decent horse. I’d imagine his route probably maps itself, all those good handicap chases. Now that he’s settling he could probably go up in trip. We could look at the Grand Annual with him. I’m not sure at this stage.
Red-hot Byrnes fires in another winner
He has been consistent in fairness to him,. His last three or four runs, he’s been knocking on the door and it was good to get it. He needs three miles, obviously. He was a small bit leery, he thought about it for a few strides. I suppose he’ll mix it between hurdles and fences, he’s a good fun horse. He’s a bit quirky, even though he wants soft ground he might travel a bit nicer on that better ground.
Diego dances in as Mullins juggernaut steps up a gear
It was a fantastic ride by Brian,. He’s a very tricky horse to ride but Brian knows him well. He just bided his time and came with one run, that was the difference. You need experience in those two-mile handicap chases and he’s built that up. He had good-class bumper form and hurdle form, he’s just a decent horse. I’d imagine his route probably maps itself, all those good handicap chases. Now that he’s settling, he could probably go up in trip. We could look at the Grand Annual with him, I’m not sure at this stage. He’s another one of Aubrey McMahon’s buys, he bought him at the Clipper Logistics dispersal. He took a chance on him when a lot of people wouldn’t have. He deserves huge credit as well.
Port Joulain a fourth for Mullins
Nelson County a nice staying prospect for O'Sullivan
That was lovely. He came forward from his run in Cork,. We had him in at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day but were a bit worried about the ground, it was on the dry side and he loves the muck. I was delighted to see a drop of rain. Even when it was called off on Saturday, we knew the rain was coming in the early part of the week and it would stand to him. He’s a nice horse, he’s probably designed to be a three-mile staying chaser. He wouldn’t be a flashy horse at home but the further you go, the better he gets. Danny gave him a lovely ride. I’m delighted for Billy, he’s a homebred and has a very good pedigree. He could be exciting for the spring.
Willie wins the bumper to complete Fairyhouse five-timer
I think I’m blowing harder than he is. I didn’t want to hit the front too soon, because when he ran for Pat, he hit the front and idled. You saw when he hit the front today he pricked his ears, I think there is plenty there and he’ll improve with racing. He’s still very babyish. It was a great run in Punchestown but, with the benefit of knowing what he did that day, I didn’t want to get to the front too soon on him, not that I could have got to the front much sooner anyway. I think he won more comfortably than it perhaps looked. Harold Kirk bought the dam because she was a sister to Pont Alexander. Luke and Philip Reynolds kept her and bred from her. It’s great to get a winner in these colours, some of my favourite winners were in these. Luke is in sunnier climes, but hopefully he’s watching on.