Going - Heavy. Fine
Jackpot Pool - €941.90 Dividend - €659.30 Winning Units - .03. Partial Carry Over of €919.90 to Thurles on Thursday 8th February. Placepot Pool - €27,865.98 Dividend - €294.50 Winning Units - 66.27. Days Aggregate - €165,377.47 (7 races). Last Year €161,485.06 (8 races).
Sainte Dona puts on an exhibition for Cooper
That was some exhibition. She had a lovely run in Limerick, but she takes a bit of time between her races as she's so hard on herself. We went back to Cork after she was second here and it was too soon. She jumps and stays, that's her forte. She won a maiden hurdle by a similar distance (25 lengths) and to win a beginners' chase by 26 lengths is some going. She's going to get better and she'll get more black-type over fences by the same she's finished. The plan was to try and get the beginners' out of the way and she's got that done. She seems to be at home on that ground, but she's not slow either. For one that travels so well on the heavy ground here, she finds the deep sand at home hard work. I put in a carpet gallop this year at home and it's after transforming her, she zips up it. It keeps her fresh and well.
Evies Vladimir and Donoghue win decisively
That was grand, he loves that heavy ground. He made a bad mistake at the first, but jumped brilliant after that. He bumped into one that last day (second to Bushmans Pass here). We'll see what the handicapper does and we'll have to go up in grade now.
Cromwell and Donoghue double up with Velvet Elvis in drama-filled feature
We'll take it! We'll never know what would have happened, but he jumped well. He won this race last year and a small field is probably ideal for him and he loves that ground. Hopefully, that will be a confidence booster for him. I suppose we'll look at the Irish National. He's also in the National Trial at Haydock, but that will probably come too soon for him as it's Saturday week. We'll see how he comes out of this, but he's very unlikely to go there. He's probably not terribly well handicapped, but at the same time you'd have to consider an Irish National.
Miss Pronunciation keeps winning over flights for Roche
That was great, she did it well. She's starting to settle a lot better than she was and I'd say that's bringing out the improvement in her. She loves that ground. We had the mother, she was a Topanoora mare and she loved that heavy ground. When it's like that we'll keep going and see what there is. The mother stayed but this one's not slow, I'd say two miles on that ground is her trip. She's improving the whole time.
Meyler brings up his brace on Toll Stone
That was good, it probably wasn't the strongest maiden hurdle on paper. After having a few placed runs on the Flat we kind of half questioned his attitude, so it was good to see him stick out his neck there. After making that mistake at the last, he knuckled down well and galloped the whole way to the line. Donagh said he handled the ground very well and we'll try and get him out again before the ground changes. We might have a look at some of the winners races or conditions races for four-year-olds. We'll keep him in the four-year-old bracket, it's probably unlikely we'll go handicapping this early.
Team Mullins at it again through Iris Emery
It was a good performance. For a maiden, first time, she jumped very well and that brought me a lot of the way round. The second had some decent form pre-Christmas and I'd say for a small field it probably wasn't the worst maiden. They are two decent types and it's nice to get the job done with my one. Maidens first time are not normally that straightforward, even out in front on her own. If they were all like that it would be easy.
Mighty Jeremy in rude health at Fairyhouse
He gave him a brilliant ride, he got an easy lead in front but he did everything perfect and I'm happy out with him. He was very consistent last year for us, we were a little bit disappointed the last couple of times but he's older and it's probably a little bit harder to get him fit. He was brilliant today and as long as the ground stays soft we'll keep running him. We might even give him a run over fences. He's a lovely horse to have and I'm delighted for the owner who is my landlord as well.
