Going - Heavy. Fine
Placepot Pool - 23,916.67 Dividend - 84.75 Winning Units - 197.5. Days Aggregate - 146,010.00 Last Year 191,852.00
Donoghue decides and Forrard delivers for Dreaper and Newell
3 finishers and Song Of Earth tougher than the rest
Stayers Hurdle on agenda now for teak tough Galmoy winner Sams
He settled like a dream today and I rode for luck turning in. I had to switch out after jumping the second last. He went a little bit right at the back of the last and was gone clear. He missed a bit of work having been given a chance to recuperate and he needed the run and tied up a little bit. He’s a tough horse as he took an awful fall over fences in Thurles and he actually fractured ribs that didn’t show up until he ran afterwards in Fairyhouse. He managed to still finish third with a broken rib. It’s a testament to the horse how tough he is. He’s a horse that wears his heart on his sleeve. He deserves this day and I’m delighted to be the man to steer him. Michael and John O’Flynn who own him are brilliant supporters of the game. He hasn't been easy and fractured ribs at Thurles (in November) from the horrible fall he got and he ran with it afterwards. He bled when he got home after his Fairyhouse run and it was the vets - Siobhan in Halleys, who found it. He bruised his lungs and we gave him box rest. He is as tough as old boots and it was just one of those things in Thurles but it got too late in the year (to continue novice chasing). He had a couple of good runs but isn't the luckiest horse in the world. The Stayers Hurdle will be pencilled in now. Being quite frank with you, I thought maybe he was a bit far back at the top of the hill but you have to take it off to him, he is a cool dude. He was dead right and I was wrong.
Street Value does Flavin another favour at Gowran
He is tough, is a relentless galloper and I thought Barry John gave him a lovely ride and let the race unfold in front of him,. Even though his last run was only a week ago I knew he'd improve for the experience of being in a first handicap. He just loves this ground and that’s the main reason I left him in it for such a good pot and from such good sponsors. That's my third runner as a trainer - I had one earlier, but shouldn't have bothered bringing him at all!
A 2nd Thyestes in 4 runnings for Gigginstown Elliott and Kennedy
We went a good gallop down to the first and steadied up after that. Normally in this race it’s an end to end gallop but we went a nice sensible gallop today. It was very easy and he jumped and travelled unbelievably well. I couldn't believe how well I was going after jumping the third last and he did it very well. He jumps very well so that is a massive help going in to your first handicap; if they can jump well it's half the battle. He has been struggling to get off the mark over fences and the blinkers made a massive difference today. It's a big race and one of the biggest handicaps of the year so it's great to win it. Gordon was busy enough as they are working a lot of the horses for next week at home. Gordon was sweet enough on him (Coko Beach) and Jack picked him. The blinkers obviously did the trick — he jumped great and travelled great and he was the winner from a long way out. I’d imagine he will be on the team for Cheltenham after that and I think the National Hunt Chase is the one Gordon has in mind. He’ll have a few easy days after this and we might have a look at the Irish National as well. Sean (Flanagan) was delighted with Run Wild Fred. He was never going to get to your man in front but he kept at it well. There should be a big day in him as well.
Another Gold for the Kennedys on Thyestes Day at Gowran
That was great to get it and he had run well in his two chases so far. It is nice to see him continuing to progress and he was always going to make a better chaser than hurdler,. He is a fantastic jumper, is 132 over fences already and we'll see what the handicapper does with him now but there'll be a nice handicap in him. The Shamrock Handicap Chase back here in March will probably be his next race. He's not really ground dependent so we will keep him going over the summer. Dad is in good spirits and that'll be a good tonic for him and keep him happy.
Perceval Legallois on the market after impressive start at Gowran
That was great. We've liked him and I was fairly confident he'd handle conditions. Obviously we were very afraid of Willie's (Mullins) horse coming here but I'm not one bit surprised because he has shown us plenty at home,. My wife Kiva along with the breeder have half shares and they sent him over from France; I won a bumper with his half-brother (Wavelength). He'll be for sale.