Going - Soft to Heavy, Soft in Places (Hurdle), Heavy (Chase). Fine, windy
Jackpot Pool - €27,396.00 Dividend - €43.40 Winning Units - 470. Placepot Pool - €48,717.31 Dividend - €17.50 Winning Units - 2076.29. Pick Six Pool - €4,706.50 Dividend - €3,529.80 Winning Units - .5. Partial Carry Over of €2,353.25 to Thurles on Thursday 31st January. Days Aggregate - €276,951.00 (8 races). Last Year €274,109.17 (7 races).
Exit shows favourite the door
I've always thought the world of him and I view this year as a stepping stone as he is really a chaser for next year. I wont aim too high for him this season and will probably look for a winners' of one next. We'll look after him and hopefully we'll see the best of him in novice chases next season.
Glen turns over odds-on stablemate
we decided to ride her more positively today and it seems to have worked. We'll keep her to those mares' races and she'd have no problem over two and a half miles.
Great winning performance from Alexandre
it was a huge performance to make all in that ground and in that weather and to burn off the horses behind him. He just destroyed them with that good jump at the second last and opened up a gap of four lengths when other horses would be getting tired. I'm looking forward to going to Cheltenham with him but what I'm really looking forward to is sending him over fences. He has size and scope and has a lovely temperament and am really looking forward to going novice chasing next season. Ballycasey (the winner's stablemate) looks like he might go for the Albert Bartlett and while Pont Alenandre could go for the Albert Bartlett, he seems to have plenty of speed and will go for the Neptune.
Mini-hurricane no obstacle to The Fly
Ruby said he's as good as he ever saw him. He gave him a squeeze turning off the last bend and he said it was just like he 'jumped in'. He took off like he was on summer ground and I just hope to keep him in that form over the next six or seven weeks. I've had faith in him all year and he seems to be in the sort of form he was two years ago.
Shariyan doubles up from Christmas win
I'm thrilled to bits! We were hoping for a bit of luck in running and we were lucky at the last (hurdle) but credit to him for getting his momentum back. I'd imagine we'll go for another handicap and hoping he'll keep improving.
Blackmail enters Cheltenham Bumper picture
that was a super performance and he deserved it. He won his point to point very well in the spring (at Templemore) and met a very good horse at Navan (Champagne James) before being beaten fair and square at Christmas. He has come back and done that very well though. I think he is quite decent and is a real good actioned horse and should be better on better ground. I'll have a chat with John (Breslin, owner) but I think he's plenty good enough to run in the Cheltenham Bumper. I'd prefer to keep him as a novice hurdler until next season.
Four for Willie as Rupert gives Ruby his treble
Rupert Lamb jumped very well and I said to Ruby to be up there. Any time he met a fence wrong he was able to put in a quick one and he looks like a horse who could run in a handicap now. I think that's his trip (2m1f) and he'd like better ground but it's hard to see him being an Arkle Chase horse. He'll probably stay at home of the likes of Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
O'Dwyer gets Competitive with McCoy's help!
that's my first winner since last May (Mac Tigue at Cork on May 25 2012). We've been knocking on the door and it's not as if they have been running that badly but I must admit I wasn't that confident passing the line and I was thinking 'here we go again'! . I'm thrilled that he won . he is still a bit of a frame and should improve again next year.
