Going - Heavy. Windy and some showers
Jackpot Pool - €10,000.00 Dividend - €3,181.80 Winning Units - 2.2. Placepot Pool - €85,332.65 Dividend - €210.20 Winning Units - 284.1. Pick Six Pool - €10,117.50 Days Aggregate - €254,656.00 (8 races). Last Year €205,357.00 (7 races).
Jungle Junction finds right route
It was about time he got his head in front! . He doesn't want that very heavy ground but goes on it without enjoying it. We'll see what happens but he could go for a novice hurdle at Naas in three weeks time.
Cracking Smart delivers for Elliott and Russell
He was very talented as a novice and he didn't reach the heights which we were all bemused by. He travelled quite well but you just weren't sure what would happen when he came off the bridle but he was very good. It is great for Cracking Smart to win it but he is probably going to be overshadowed by Tiger Roll. He (Cracking Smart) is entered in some of the handicaps at Cheltenham and maybe the softer ground could be the key to him too. I thought he (Tiger Roll) ran a brilliant race - he jumped and Keith (Donoghue) said he travelled everywhere. He thought after three out he was going to win. Down to the second last he just had a blow then and rode him hands and heels to the line. I told Keith to follow them around and if you beat one or two home I'd be thrilled. I thought there was a lot of pluses to be taken out of the race and once he is okay in the morning, that is all we wanted. He said he pulled the arms out of him the whole way and we can look forward to the Cross Country race now. Cheltenham is the plan now and he'll go to Cheltenham next week or the week after to have a pop around. We'll take a lead-horse with him and he'll also have another racecourse gallop and that'll be him. We are thrilled with Tiger Roll and once he is alright in the morning it will be all systems for Cheltenham and all being well the Randox Aintree Grand National.
Francin readily off the mark in Navan
It was hard work. His race at Christmas has worked out well and now he is another winner out of it. It is hard to look impressive there - I thought he was going to be impressive but he seemed to get stuck in the ground. I'll find a nice race in the spring somewhere and he can go up to 2m4f on nicer ground.
Elliott and Russell at double in Navan
In fairness to her, she won her bumper on soft ground at Listowel a couple of years ago but she has never really had the ground she wanted. Davy said he went wider than he wanted the whole way but he wanted to keep her in a rhythm and she probably wants further. It's great for the lads (AP Partnership) from Kerry as they had a winner at the point-to-point in Punchestown also today with a horse trained by Cian Collins, who works with me in the yard. It's great for them and this mare will go for something similar next.
Age no barrier to 'the boss' Seskinane
He is a super horse - 14 years of age, and leaving the parade ring has bucked all the way to the start. He is just a stalwart around the place; I leave the door open in his stable and he walks around the yard and is the foreman and the boss! He comes back in when he is hungry and the less you do with him the better, because it keeps him fresh and well. That ground, this track and trip is key to him and he has done it well in the end. There is a 0-116 here in two weeks time and that's where he'll go. He owes us nothing and is the reason I started training, so to stumble on a nice horse as your first horse is great. I have eight in training at the moment.
Maxwell seals first Grade 2 on National contender
Conor said he got stuck in the ground a bit jumping but was able to make it up easy on the flat. His form was there and he is in the Eider Chase next week but won't run. It was a choice of coming here or the Eider and I'd like to run him in the Irish National now. He is ground dependant and if it was too quick I wouldn't run him. He is a grand, honest horse and tries hard so that's half the battle. He is not overly big and wouldn't be a lover of that deep ground and jumping-wise he was getting a bit stuck in the ground and on the level was making it up easy. I said to his owner at the start of the year that I'd love to finish the year in the Irish National and this is a nice pot to get so we'll go from here.
Se Mo Laoch brings up doubles all round
This is like interviewing Gordon (Elliott)! - normally if I had two or three winners in the year that would be about the height of it and to have two in a day is beyond belief. I was hoping he might win and go up a few pounds to get into the Kim Muir at Cheltenham and Eoin can ride him. Eoin is a massive team member, is in every day and is a slave to work. He won the five year old maiden at Nenagh (point-to-point) earlier and shot up the road to be here on time to ride Se Mo Laoch.
Julies Stowaway toughs it out in the bumper
He was beaten fair and square in his first two runs but ran two smashing races. He had a bad fall in a point-to-point the first day and had a cut behind his knee which set him back. He had to go to Fethard Clinic and they did a super job on him and he is flying since he came back. I'd say the ground at Limerick the last day he ran was worse than today and Patrick gave him a lovely ride today and I'm delighted for the lads who are good owners. We'll see in the morning what the plan is but I think he is a good horse long-term, I love him.
