Going - Chase: Good to yielding. Hurdle/Bumper: Yielding. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €560.55 Dividend - €265.10 Winning Units - 1.48. Placepot Pool - €22,047.04 Dividend - €35.60 Winning Units - 432.67. Days Aggregate - €123,792.15 Last Year
Wide margin win for Gentleman de Mee
That was a good performance and he got his jumping right. He galloped to the line which was very pleasing and we'll keep him at that trip for the time being. He is very hard on himself and mightn't be ready to go across the water just yet. I think he might be a horse we keep at home and find races which might suit him. The Arkle isn't foremost on my mind and I'll have a word with connections but the Flyingbolt Chase at Navan (March 5) is an option. We'll try and play a lower ball and try and win a Graded race at home.
Hollybank King gets his day in the sun
The type of track suited him better than at Down Royal (sixth there last time) and he previously had some trouble in-running at Clonmel. He couldn't ever just get over the line but that will get his confidence up now and hopefully he might win another one. He's probably better over two miles than 2m4f and it is hard to find races for this type of horse. My son Michael rides him sometimes and we have four in training. It took three and a half hours to drive down but it wasn't too bad and at least the sun was shining!
Facile success for Adamantly Chosen
Paul said he was very green in front but he learned a lot today, even after two hurdle runs. His fitness made the difference and he appreciates the drier ground, rather than real winter ground. We'll look for another type of novice and he can go out in trip. We'll look for races at home and the Michael Purcell Hurdle back here (over 2m5f on Feb 24th) could be a good option for him - over a longer trip he wouldn't have to make the running.
The Little Yank notches third win over hurdles
I told someone before the race that he'd win by eight or ten lengths and he won by nine!. That horse is flying and Gillian (Ryan, daughter) has transformed him. He was running and running and we couldn't figure him out but in fairness she figured he had ulcers and got on top of it. He won two bumpers when he looked a real little horse and please God he is coming back to that level. He'll be a smashing chaser and I wanted to run him in a beginners' chase but Gillian wouldn't let me, as we want him for the summer.
Townend doubles up on Falcon Eight
He did it well and the ground was probably slower than ideal for him. He jumped well and hopefully he can improve from that again in the weeks and months ahead. He probably needs to get more experience under his belt but it was nice to get that out of the top and to have Paul available to ride him was the cherry on the top. He is a very high class horse at his best and has run some excellent races in some of those Group staying races. We'll be mixing it between flat and hurdles during year with him. The last day I was here Merchant Royal won a hunters chase in my own colours so I better stay away for another ten years!
Round The Buoy sails to victory under Sexton
He ran twice in three days when he won at Punchestown and came out of the win with massive confidence and I was really confident today. We got 12lb for winning and people were saying it was harsh but I didn't think it was that harsh and the runner-up, who pulled 12 lengths clear of the third horse, won yesterday. I'm delighted for the owner Noel Nugent as a lot of owners would have pulled the plug on him because he was weak and backwards and didn't look like he had a lot of ability. I have 10 riding out, things are going great and that's the second winner of the year.
Elliott unleashes smart prospect in bumper
He is a nice horse, he won easy and Rob (James) was delighted with him. He can be a bit keen but he settled great and had the hood on to keep him that way. He travelled into it very easy and Rob said he even got there too soon. He was impressive looking at him and Gordon will chat with the owners and see what they want to do but he looks like he wouldn't be out of place in a good bumper.
