Going - Heavy. Overcast with showers
Jackpot Pool - 10,255.07 Dividend - 241.80 Winning Units - 29.71. Placepot Pool - 30,761.76 Dividend - 19.20 Winning Units - 1121.35. Days Aggregate - 190,707.03 Last Year 223,918.33
Miss Agusta up and running over flights for Elliott and Kennedy
Meade maps out big plans for Affordale Fury
It is a bit of a relief as in beginners' chases you never know what will happen. He was very good, though, and those ex point-to-pointers are well schooled. We brought him to the Curragh a few weeks ago and he was really really good. He would like a little nicer ground than that and got tired in the end, but he didn't get as tired as the others. . Where I'd love to be is in Leopardstown over Christmas for the Grade 1 novice over three miles. We'll enter him for the Drinmore in between, but might instead run in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl (2m6f, Punchestown) instead. Sam's dad Warren had him as a young horse and Sam is sponsored by Philip Polly, who also sponsors Danny McMenamin in Scotland. It's Sam's first winner back from injury and he is blowing as hard as the horse!
Natural Look enjoys her handicap chase debut in Galway
Cromwell fires in another through Hascoeur Clermont
It is great for the syndicate (Riverview Racing Syndicate) who are from Trim and I'm delighted for them. This is compensation for his last two runs as he ballooned the last at Downpatrick and it might have cost him. It is a brilliant place for them to get their first winner. We weren't sure about the ground, but he handled it away well. He'll continue running in staying chases and we'll make hay while the sun shines.
Change of emphasis reaping dividends for Gilligan
He would have been a very unlucky loser, but I suppose the loose horse also did him a little favour as he brought him out on the better ground. I had said to Jack to go wide and pick the best ground. This is a fair good horse and I did think he would win, although was worried about the gluey ground. He didn't jump early, but I told Jack to leave him asleep for as long as he could. He will be on the boat to Cheltenham in November for a graded novice. . His run behind Willie's (Mullins) High Class Hero at Listowel was a super run when Paul Townend probably just got a 'run' on Jack. He went on to win a Listed race at Limerick last week.
Elliott, Kennedy and Gigginstown double up with Search For Glory
Front-running O'Hanlon guides El Champo home
I thought this was the ideal race for him after going up (in the weights) having won over 2m3f on soft ground the last day. He was back in trip, but I wanted to let him roll on and Paddy (O'Hanlon) is so good at making the running. He was left to dictate and around here that suits and his jumping was better today. In Ireland where do you find an ordinary race? That could be his final handicap hurdle as such as he got beaten previously off 98. Maybe I was a bad trainer, but we're stepping up and up now and he'll probably go chasing at some stage.
Turner rides first winner aboard gambled-on Magical Annie
I'm from up north in Inishowen in Donegal and I know Oisin Orr and Dylan (Browne McMonagle) and all the boys. I'm based with Willie Mullins and go to Barry's (Fitzgerald, trainer) every day. That's only my sixth ride and hopefully it'll continue to go well. She is a lovely filly, we gave her a break last year for the summer and brought her back with today being the plan. She is a game filly, wears her heart on her sleeve and has jumped banks in Scobie's (Aidan Fitzgerald, brother). A lot of fillies were talked about, but we were hopeful of a good run and she'll go to the Tattersalls November Sales now. Fair play to Luke as he works hard. We were gone this morning at 7am and he came in to ride out two horses before coming racing. He puts in the work and deserves the success. With the setup I have, you have to give young people a chance.