Going - Soft. Fine and cold
Jackpot Pool - €5,584.91 Not Won. Carried forward to Dundalk on Friday 15th January. Placepot Pool - €33,346.22 Dividend - €23,342.10 Winning Units - .27. Partial Carry Over of €24,449.24 to Dundalk on Friday 15th January. Pick Six Pool - €20,625.39 Days Aggregate - €242,827.00 Last Year €98,067.00
Rooster steps forward as fav disappoints
That was a surprise, a happy surprise, as we weren't expecting that!. He was a bit green but jumped very well and jumped a few like a fence. We wanted to be positive and he doesn't seem to be as slow as he seems at home. He's a big backward type and ten years ago horses like him would be only coming into training at five. Maybe that's why he wasn't giving us that feel at home and we won't be in any rush with him now. He'll go chasing next season.
Another pleasing performance from Westend
He's a big galloping horse but Barry said when he was on his own he was a bit idle,. He was doing his best work after the second last and home and he is a grand horse; we'll see what happens.
Diamond has Bramall back at number one
Don gets job done in Kinloch Brae again
I was worried about the ground as he's a better horse on better ground. He worked in cheek-pieces the other day and flew in them and while there was no point having them on today, he'll have them on in the Gold Cup,. Bryan said from the second last to the line he was only getting going. He was free and exuberant in the early days and while it's not good to look at, the last quarter (of his races) is his best now. He's a better horse in the second half of the season and with a bit of better ground and cheek-pieces, the Gold Cup is the plan. If he's good enough or not I don't know, but roll on March.
Fahy dares and wins
Some compo for Fehily
He was unlucky to meet a Grade 2 winner (earlier victor Aunt Nora) here the last day and also the third horse (Witness Of Fashion) won twice since,. There's a race for him at Navan next Saturday but it might come too soon. I'm delighted for his owner, Paddy McLoughney, who is my longest standing owner and gave me my first winner, with Agent Scully at Sligo in 1998.
Late scare but Maguire's Rockers prevails
He jumped well and got a great ride, but both horse and jockey fell asleep on the ground in the straight. He quickened and picked up well after the last though and is a good horse. If everything is alright, he'll run at Leopardstown next and we'll see what he does after that. I'm delighted with the win as I had my appendix out last week and wasn't around to help out in all the bad weather.
