Going - Heavy. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €1,019.30 Dividend - €57.30 Winning Units - 12.47. Placepot Pool - €25,143.17 Dividend - €13.50 Winning Units - 1300.79. Days Aggregate - €140,868.55 Last Year €142,457.62
Charming Star lands the odds in Navan opener
He keeps a lot to himself, a lot of time he just does what he needs to. I'd say there is plenty of engine there. We'll probably go back to the Flat with him. Hopefully we can tip away in the better handicaps over a mile-and-six or two miles. He stays well. He'll probably come back here for a Flat race in April, at the minute that's the plan. I got a few lads to buy him back because I thought we'd have plenty of fun with him during the summer. He ran very well here on yielding ground on his first run, over a mile-and-a-quarter, and he travelled well. I don't think he has to have heavy ground but on nicer ground you'd want to be going a trip.
Instant Tendance gains deserved and poignant win
She's tough and honest. On her run in a maiden hurdle here she was probably entitled to win. It's great for Caren, she's a big supporter of the yard and that's her first winner since Aidan passed away. We'll try and get a bit of black-type with her somewhere. It was a good run today and she's very tough.
Aodhan May brings up hat-trick for the Byrnes family
She's so genuine, she goes on the ground and she's brilliant to jump. He probably has her now after today but it was great to get the three anyway. She'll keep going as long as this ground lasts. She'll have a long summer's break.
Kinturk Kalanisi stays on well for Gibney & Buckley
He's been as solid as a rock. It's brilliant for John and Sabrina (Daly), it's their first horse with me. Jim (Melia) and Sean and Kathleen who bred him had him with me to point-to-point and sell. We couldn't get a decent price for him in England and I said I'd get them a few pound back home so I was delighted for them. We think he'll make a nice chaser in time, we've thought that all along. He jumps really well and it's great to pick up a hurdle race on the way. The small field and having to do the donkey work was far from ideal for him. He's much better having somebody taking him along. It's just the way it panned out. He could go for the three-mile handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter.
Blood Destiny impresses in Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase
New tactics, I thought that might be a help after Punchestown. Paul was very taken with him there. He's brilliant to jump, that was always his feature, but we were making too much use of his jumping instead of just using it when we needed it. Coming back in trip might have been a help as well. I don't know whether we've made a mistake now leaving him at home for Cheltenham but at least he has one nice prize in the bag. I imagine he'll probably go for the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. That was the plan, here and then on to that. I know it's two-and-a-half but that two-and-a-half will be alright for him as well. I was keen after Punchestown to change tactics and see what he was like riding him that way. It worked for today anyway but it mightn't work everyday. I wouldn't have any problem with ground for him. He's a lighter framed horse rather than big heavy ground horse. He'll go on nicer ground and might be faster on nice ground. I thought he was struggling on that down the far side.
Ash Tree Meadow makes all in featured Webster Cup
It wasn't really the plan to run him but when the race looked like it would cut up we decided we'd declare him and then make our mind up what to do. In fairness to Eamon and Robbie (Waters) they said 'whatever you want to do'. It worked out great. He's a good horse, Sam said he hated that ground and he'll be better on better ground. There is a race in Fairyhouse and a race in Aintree for him. He'll be entered in the Irish National and we'll see what Eamon wants to do, it's just whether he'd get that trip would be my only concern. We had four or five seconds last weekend but no winner. I'd be anxious myself, we haven't much between now and Cheltenham but it's happy days (today).
Jumping Jet brings up Elliott treble & Gilligan double
That was great. It's been a good day, my birthday and all, so I can't complain. She was honest and tough. They went very fast and it suited her well.
