Going - Good to Yielding, Yielding in Places (Hurdle/chase Crse), Good To Firm (X Country Crse). Sunny spells & showery
Jackpot Pool - €34,198.25 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Wednesday 27th April. Placepot Pool - €88,328.15 Dividend - €272.20 Winning Units - 227.14. Pick Six Pool - €39,870.40 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Wednesday 27th April. Days Aggregate - €863,147.00 Last Year €590,919.00
Ladies rule in Ladies Cup again
She's a little dinger around there. She's qualified for this race next year so that could be on the agenda,. She's entered on Saturday but we have several others and we'll just have to see. She's just a natural (over the banks), and gets plenty of help from (Nina Carberry) on top.
Touch trained for Punchestown and delivers
I always felt that better ground would bring out the best in him. He got bogged down the last day, and had to miss an intended engagement at Fairyhouse with an infection in his leg. We trained him for here, and he's done us proud,. It's great when the horses are running well, and it can be infectious for the whole yard. That was a hell of a step up as he'd only won a maiden hurdle. He jumped great off that ground. They went fast in front but he cruised into it and Barry said he got lairy in front but then went on again when the other horse came to him.
Dempsey strikes for Elliott
It's nice to get a winner early here this week. I've not had a winner for 21 days and at this time of year you start panicking. I'd say the better the ground the better he is. We could have a bit of fun on the flat with him. He won snug and is an improving horse.
God's makes Punchestown his Own
Going right handed and the undulations really suit him. It's lovely to win a Grade 1 here in Ireland - it's something I've always wanted to do. I wasn't in control for the first mile - he was very free. But I just let him get on with it. He's won here before and likes going right-handed. We've had to step up his work since Aintree as he was putting weight on.
He's got the heart of a lion alright
It's only recently that we found out he's a stayer, and horses that stay win races. He was flying at the finish,. There were a lot of nice horses in the race this year, and a lot with form. He had a bit of a problem with his jumping as he was a bit cowardly but we can worry about that next year. He's always showed enough in his work.
Zabana gets a deserved big day
He was nearly gone at the first but only missed one after that. After Cheltenham he seemed to sulk, and went off everything, but in the last three weeks he came right. He wants that ground, and is a real good horse,. We'll let him off now and make a man of him for next year. He'll strengthen up again as he's only seven. He might start off here in the Durkan. In Cheltenham my heart sank. You would love to do it there but it's lovely to win here as well. When the loose horse came across I thought here comes our (bad) luck again.
Mullins winner arrives in finale
What he was doing in half speeds was very good though. Down the back straight I had to get down and push him five or six times, but he's quite green as we weren't working him hard. Coming around the home bend he was pricking his ears. I kicked then - I did the same in the Land Rover (on Jenkins, the runner-up) and didn't get home. It worked here - unfortunately it didn't work earlier. I think there's a lot of improvement in him. It's nice for Luke McMahon (owner) to get a winner. His Uncle Junior retires this week so hopefully this fellow can give him as much pleasure. He's obviously very smart and showed lots of gears. He has a real staying pedigree so when he showed that it's very encouraging. He did it the hard way as he only had a few horses behind him at the stone wall. He showed greenness but then he showed lots of speed and then showed off his stamina when Jessie's horse came to him. He's a horse for the future. I think he'll need a break now as he was ready today, and he'll come back later on. He could go to Galway for a winners bumper, or we may leave him off and come back jumping.
