Going - Yielding. Overcast and breezy
Jackpot Pool - €4,962.99 Dividend - €4,368.50 Winning Units - .1. Placepot Pool - €78,545.34 Dividend - €412.30 Winning Units - 133.35. Days Aggregate - €402,233.89 Last Year €223,714.00
Minella Cocooner and Mullins electric off the front
It went well. He's very slick at his hurdles for a horse that stays well. All the way down the back he was getting a length or two at each hurdle which allowed me to fill him up. Hollow Games moved up coming to the second last but I was happy I would pick up and battle with him. It was a nice surprise to see how easily I got away from him. The two jumps away from the stands were great, he got lengths there but I suppose turning across the top is where the worst of the wind is. I just had a peek between my legs because with that wind you are slightly disorientated as to what is going on around you. I had a few lengths up my sleeve and I was able to ease off the gas there, and I knew I would have more for the business end. It is beautiful ground, credit to Leopardstown. They have done a great job on it. It is perfectly safe jumping ground.
Mullins doubles up with pacey Vauban
He's a horse we like. I was disappointed I got beaten on him the first day (when second to Pied Piper in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on New Year's Eve), we might have made up for that today. His form, after his run in Punchestown, was looking very good. I thought if Paul got him jumping today he could improve hugely on his Punchestown form, which he did. It's tremendous to win another Grade One. We're delighted he won today, put it all together and he learned and got his experience today. It's a nice way to break your maiden. I don't know if many horses have broken their maiden in a Grade One but it's a nice achievement for him anyhow. We thought he was a nice horse when we bought him. On his second last run we had him bought and then he ran once more on the Flat in France and proved that he was a serious Flat horse. We just had to teach him how to jump and we eventually got around to that. It's tremendous for Rich and Paul and all connections.
Three from three for Mullins as Blue Lord prevails
It was a good performance, he did what was required. It was a tough race, there was no hiding place there as there was plenty of pace on up front. He jumped well throughout, he came under a little bit of pressure turning for home but once he got running going to the last it was just a matter of jumping the last I thought. He jumped well today and I couldn't fault what he did, I'm happy enough he did everything right. Paul said when he got to the front he just did what he did in Naas, he just idled. Between the wind and the crowd here today you could see him looking around himself. I'm very happy with his performance. Saint Sam (in third) needs to learn a lot. He made two bad mistakes but got away with it, he's a horse that can find a fifth leg. We're very happy with them and happy that Haut En Couleurs got up off the ground as well.
Sexton produces Good Time Jonny with winning run
That was brilliant, very sweet. That's what it's all about, having days like this with the people that are involved. Touch wood the horses are running very well and we'll make hay while the sun shines. He had a few hiccups and last year he missed a lot of time. He's after coming good and showing his worth now. We always thought this would be his job down the road. He won't go to Cheltenham, definitely not. He was there in November, it didn't work out and he didn't like it.
Conflated upsets big guns in Irish Gold Cup
He jumped super and did everything really, really well. He jumped straight as a die, he can hang a bit but nothing today. It was either one or the other - I was either gone too soon or they would never catch me. To be fair to the horse, he kept responding. The more I pulled out of him, the more he responded. He got into a lovely rhythm. I was keen to run him during the week, we were thinking of going for a handicap, but thankfully Eddie and Michael (O'Leary, Gigginstown) let me run him in this. I wanted to find out where I was going, how good or bad he was. I know he's a horse with a massive engine but he can be very hot and cold. It's great for Michael and Anita, and the whole team in Gigginstown and all the team at Cullentra. We have a massive team behind us and to win a race like this is unbelievable. We've had three seconds today so to win a Gold Cup now has just made up for it. I said to Eddie before the race that he'd either win or pull up and thankfully he won. We've got the Gold Cup, the Ryanair and he's in the Grand National. We'll have a chat with Michael and Eddie and myself and Ryan (McElligott) and Lisa (O'Neill) and the whole team. He jumps a bit left so we said we'd go down the paint today and he actually had loads to room down there so it worked out grand. I thought it was going to be one of those days but the only thing I had in my head was at least the horses were running well. If they had been second last my head would have been on the ground. It's a testam
A Wave Of The Sea flows in again
He jumped savage today, we put the blinkers on, and Shane (Fitzgerald) gave him a great ride,. I'm delighted to get a winner here this weekend, I thought we might struggle so it's great to get one. He's not especially well handicapped but he's a good tough horse and he turns up and runs his race. What he did today that maybe he hasn't done previously is jump great. He has a mistake in him but he jumped fantastic today and the blinkers probably helped him. He's a very solid horse, from the time he was a four-year-old and the whole way through. We'll to speak to JP and Frank but he might be one that could win a good pot at home while some other people are gone over (to Cheltenham). We'll see what they want to do.
Facile Vega has 'wow' factor in Mullins' four-timer
That was pretty 'wow!', we went a good gallop and when I turned in and gave him a bit of rein he has lengthened his stride. He is a bit special I'd say. I think Redemption Day is up there with him. I'd say this fellow was quicker today than he was at Christmas, he quickened quicker, but Redemption Day would have to be in the conversation too. What I loved about him both days was I lined him up and he has had no cover and he settled both days. He's in your hand, he travels, but he is not fighting you. It makes life a lot easier as a jockey in that I'm not having to look for cover or having to drop in or do different things. I can ride him wherever I want. It's very unusual for good race mares to have very good progeny but Quevega was always a bit different.
