Going - Good, Good To Firm In Places. Fine
Jackpot Pool - 5,120.12 Dividend - 31.70 Winning Units - 113.03. Placepot Pool - 32,590.74 Dividend - 109.50 Winning Units - 208.21. Pick Six Pool - 35,000.00 Dividend - 17,500.00 Winning Units - .5. Days Aggregate - 171,167.00 Last Year 136,529.00
Lion roars on hurdling debut
It was a nice introduction and he's a nice prospect going forward. Keith gave him a great ride. He's done plenty of schooling and was very good. We would probably have preferred a lead over the first one or two but he found himself in front and it was no bother to him. I don't know where we'll go next - I'll talk to the owner. I'm just happy to get that out of the way. Two-and-a-half miles would be right up his street. I thought the two miles might be a little bit too short for him but he handled it well being ridden like that.
Hi Comes late for Doran & Nash
In Gowran she just jumped badly and never got into a rhythm. She nearly got brought down at the second last which also exaggerated how far she was beaten. I thought after she'd won her maiden hurdle that it was a bonus and now she's after winning two. She did it well today. I've no plan and we'll look for something in a month's time, maybe a mares' handicap hurdle. She looks to be improving and you never know with mares when they'll stop improving. Tom gets on with her and gave her a very good ride.
Irish National long-term plan for Jarob
That was great. I thought they went a bit slow early on which didn't help me as he needs a gallop. He's going to get a break now and come back in the spring when he'll go back over fences. When the ground stayed good for us I said we'll take another few quid. Hopefully we'll run him in the Irish National if he gets a bit quicker over his fences. He wants three miles.
The Game Changer completes Graded treble
He's entered at Cheltenham next weekend but I'd say we might have to take a pull now. He's after winning three Graded races now and has turned inside out. He loves it over fences. He'll get a break now until the spring and we'll look at the festivals at the back-end. If you look back to Galway he can still be tricky enough but when he gets there and things work out he's good. He'd have to improve again (to make up into a Grade 1 horse) as he's beating summer horses. We could look at Aintree and Punchestown with him. The Grand Annual is also an option.
Don Cossack makes smooth return to action
Fair play to Punchestown, they have done a tremendous job on the ground. We have been waiting on this day all summer to start the season off. Bryan said he took a blow after the fifth last but he's never come off the bridle. We'll look forward to the rest of the season. There are a lot of big races to look at and there is the million pounds bonus in England that we will have to discuss. He's in the JNWine Champion Chase at Down Royal but Road To Riches will probably go there. I'm sure Eddie and Michael (O'Leary) and Noel (Meade) and myself, and Willie (Mullins) also has a few Gold Cup horses (for Gigginstown) will all have a chat and we'll make a plan. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is my long term plan. Eddie got his way last year and he went for the Ryanair but he'll definitely go for the Gold Cup this year. I still believe he's not a horse for real heavy ground. I think he's better on a nicer surface. All his big wins bar one there was a bit of good in it. We said today that we would get him settled. He was a bit buzzy in this race last year. Roi Du Mee has lost his Grade 1 penalty this season which is a massive help and we will look at all those Grade 2 and 3 races. He's been a great servant, and the softer the ground the better.
Much delivers More under masterful O'Connor
Sergeant completes Gigginstown treble