Going - Hurdle/bumper tracks - soft to heavy; Chase course - soft, soft to heavy in places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €3,761.07 Dividend - €306.80 Winning Units - 11.62. Placepot Pool - €36,716.17 Dividend - €75.40 Winning Units - 466.61. Days Aggregate - €393,812.93 Last Year €325,302.55
Galon De Vauzelle another winner for in-form Rothwell
Very heavy ground the second-last day in Fairyhouse and he just didn't handle it. Hence he was out so wide today. I went to Cheltenham and I thought he was doing a half-speed down to the third-last, and just switched in and made a mistake at the wrong time. He did nothing wrong that day, I thought he was running a blinder. I just said to Tom Doran his owner that there is no Seddon in the race this year. Last year Seddon beat me 10 lengths and look what he went on to do. He was 4lb higher this year and we fitted blinkers for the first time not because he is ungenuine, but just to sharpen him up with what had happened in Cheltenham and before that. Going around the parade ring beforehand, he was on his 'A' game. I was very confident of a very big run. Thank God - now I don't look so stupid!. If you go back and look at his form last year and the horses that beat him, his runs were incredible. He just kept coming up against one. He is extremely genuine and such a gorgeous horse. Thank God he has won. I'd love to bring him back to the UK and try him on good ground over further. It is something I have in my head. I'd love to drop him in over three and a-half miles on good ground in a good chase over there to see what would happen. I love trying different things to see if you can find an edge. You can't stay what you are doing or you get to a level and you don't go further. That is my 33rd winner and has equalled my best season.
Ballyburn impresses with effortless maiden win at Leopardstown
He did what we were hoping he might do in Fairyhouse. We were happy - he jumped well and galloped to the line, so he is improving. He is on the up. He has improved hugely from Fairyhouse. He was probably beaten in a sprint in Fairyhouse. We are hoping there is plenty more improvement to come as well, we think there is anyway. He settled well enough - that's what I was worried about, he would get too keen. That's more his comfort zone today over two and a-half miles. I'm not thinking anything (future plans) - I'm just delighted we got today out of the way. He did it impressively. You'd be thinking he is more of a two-and-a-half-mile horse. Paul told me he appears keen, but it is just the way he carries his head low. He said every time he gave him a little feel on the reins, he came back underneath him. I'm very happy that the horse is learning all the time.
Jetara now going from strength to strength
She jumped and settled and he (Kennedy) said he couldn’t believe how much she picked up. He thought he had got there plenty soon enough and, when he asked her, she picked up well. We are delighted with her. She will be better on better ground — the whole family want better ground. She is the only one of them that is happy on that soft ground. She will probably come back here for the novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. We might as well, as she is still a novice. She jumps very slick and they (geldings) will have to give her 7lb. Then we will probably wait for Fairyhouse, which is early this year, for the mares’ Grade One. That will be kind of her programme.
Grangeclare West wins first Grade 1 of career in commanding fashion
I didn't expect that now - I thought he would run well, but that was a top race. Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he'd want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground, and win like that going away was a huge performance. His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul's hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally. He's just a natural chaser. He might go for the Brown Advisory and Fact To File might go for the Turners. We'll see, it is a nice problem to have. We might come back here to the Dublin Racing Festival first. I'm delighted to win a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas.
State Man secures Matheson double in style
State Man showed tremendous gears today. Daryl came in on Impaire Et Passe and he said ‘we quickened twice and then Paul quickened away again a third time’. Daryl thought he maybe had Paul where he wanted him at the second-last and he said he quickened twice between the last two and Paul went away again. Testing conditions might really suit him (State Man), so we will be praying for rain over Cheltenham!. State Man ran a great race last March, finishing second to Constitution Hill. Hopefully will be around to keep Constitution Hill straight, but I don’t think Nicky Henderson and Michael Buckley are going to be worried. We are delighted to win and will probably come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival (Irish Champion Hurdle), and hopefully go on to March then.
Drinks on Fahy as Champagne upsets some well fancied rivals
It was an unbelievable ride by Michael. I was thinking of dropping him in and getting him to switch off and Michael said he wasn't happy and, maybe if there was no pace, he'd make up his own mind. You saw the result we got. We were happy with his mark but the handicapper is rarely wrong, as we know. In fairness, maybe he did give us a little bit of a chance, but he's a good horse.
Jalon D'oudairies enhances Cheltenham bumper claims with impressive display
He's our Cheltenham bumper horse. We think he is nice. I thought he showed some attitude to have to make the running, we didn't really want to. What I loved from two furlongs to the pole was hands and heels and he just stretched the whole way. He picked up well. I thought it was a good performance. He'll go straight there (Cheltenham), Jack Kennedy booked and all ready to go!
