Going - Soft (Heavy In Places). Overcast, threat of rain
Jackpot Pool - 27,002.00 Dividend - 22,500.00 Winning Units - 1. Placepot Pool - 64,673.40 Dividend - 1,127.20 Winning Units - 43.3. Daily Double Pool - 294.00 Dividend - 44.10 Pick Six Pool - 10,859.50 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Thursday 25th April. Days Aggregate - 834,307.00 Last Year 418,974.33
Beau Michael scores 14th win
his owners (the Total Recall Racing Club) are a great bunch of lads and he has been a great servant for them. I was a bit disappointed at Leopardstown the last day but the plan was always to come here. He'll keep mixing it with the Flat and may go back over fences and could go for the Glaway Plate this year. Some of the Premier Handicaps on the Flat could also be on his agenda.
Dalasiri foils British gamble
I knew whatever he did today he'd improve a stone from it as he was held up after his previous run at Fairyhouse with a lung infection. He's beautifully bred and is probably big enough to jump a fence in time but is a horse with a real attitude and he even tried to attack another horse in the yard! . The plan coming here was to give him a holiday after this as he has been on the go for quite a while and we'll probably go for a few races on the Flat later in the summer.
Assembly rallies for Grade 1 glory
it's great to have a win like this as we've had a very slack season and after Fairyhouse (where he fell) we were really down on the ground. However we decided to stick with him and go for this Grade 1 and he proved he's a real dour stayer and came home really well today. I'd say we'll go chasing next season and he'll respect a fence a lot more. He was bought to be a chaser and I'm just lucky to have such a good horse!
Sir Des Champs is Punchestown's Champ
I thought he (Sir Des Champs) looked a bit big in himself in the parade ring today but he has now won the Hennessy and this race so he has won two of the top chases in Ireland. It was a decisive move by Davy (Russell) when he went on . Davy felt that his jumping kept him in the race although the one in front (Long Run) was jumping out a bit to the left and was probably taking them a bit across with him. We'll be back for Cheltenham again next year and hopefully the ground is a bit better then.
The Liquidator lays down the law!
The Liquidator isn't over big and there's not a lot of him but he's tough and gutsy. We also trained the dam (Alikat) it probably helped when the favourite (Briar Hill - lame) came out.
Double for Condon as Klepht claims Grade A
I've been telling the owner all year that there was a big handicap in Klepht but he won an ordinary enough beginners' chase at Wexford and I thought he got a big enough rating. He tends to struggle with his breathing and he should be better on better ground. We'll see what the handicapper does and he could head for the Galway Plate.
Lots Of Memories from the Fahey's 'day out'!
he (Lots Of Memories) has been knocking on the door and to be honest I didn't think he'd win one!