The Tullow Tank in full flight© Photo Healy Racing
The International scene has provided some superb highlights over the last week with a nigh on Hollywood ending to Jamie Spencer’s marmite career as Toast Of New York came close to Breeders Cup glory and Ryan Moore, everyone’s favourite spread, landed another Group 1 in the race that stops a nation Down Under.
To see Moore lap up the atmosphere and revel in the success was something I really enjoyed and something that was refreshing particularly when compared to his normal calm demeanour even when winning the biggest contests at home. Even the ice man couldn’t resist a beam at the cameras and the huge crowds after such a monumental moment in his career. He will of course be away from his family for a while yet and whilst he may have left the title at home as well as the kids he is certainly making hay on foreign soil in no uncertain terms. We are lucky to have him and hopefully his charge for global domination continues in Japan.
Many have been pleased to see the rain start to fall with Slippers Madden showing recent Ryan Moore style enthusiasm for the downpours this week when in the studio for the Talking Horses Podcast. It was great to chat over the recent form of Noel Meade and his stable firing again after a difficult term last year. Apache Stronghold, Very Wood and of course Road To Riches will have him excited for the season ahead and with them out and winning early he has avoided a multiple assault on such races from the touch slower out of the blocks Willie Mullins.
Henry de Bromhead is flying too, more runners and more winners than we’ve seen from him and with JJ Burke getting his association with the Potts horses off to flyer they have lots of reasons to jump out of bed each morning.
Adrian Heskin will be happy to get a potential fly out of the way with a nice clear round and victory for The Tullow Tank over fences and he was perfect on him at Fairyhouse. Mala Beach caught the eye in the race too along with Azorian. That might work out to be a decent event and the way the “Tank” did it the Drinmore looks the perfect call later this month.
The fully blossoming Don Cossack was impressive at Down Royal and next stop will perhaps be in the UK for Gordon Elliott with entries at Haydock for the Betfair Chase and Newbury for the Hennessy before the month end. He was the star of the action for me and one I can’t wait to see again. It’s starting to get exciting and even Niall Cronin sunning himself in Australia was salivating over the entries for the Clonmel Oil Chase during the week, Champagne Fever, Sizing Europe and a fully prepped First Lieutenant in the mix for that, he will have to ditch the shorts for something warmer though!
This weekend I will be getting stuck into Communicator for the Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster hoping Andrew Balding continues his great end to the season plus I’ll be sticking with the nicely handicapped Golden Chieftain in the Badger Ales at Wincanton who caught the eye on seasonal reappearance behind Roalco De Farges at Cheltenham.
The jumps action in Ireland is top drawer as Navan and Naas have really good cards and this Naas meeting saw The Tullow Tank, Road To Riches, Diakali and Shaneshill in the winners enclosure last year. Notebooks at the ready…..
Good luck to all.