Going - Soft. Overcast, threat of showers
Jackpot Pool - €727.91 Not Won. Carried forward to Tramore on Tuesday 28th November. Placepot Pool - €23,097.00 Dividend - €655.90 Winning Units - 35.24. Days Aggregate - €175,567.14 Last Year €181,936.81
Birchdale lands the odds in Risk Of Thunder Chase
He was enjoying it anyway which with those horses is the main thing and the third horse ran well too. Vital Island is a good old yardstick to know where you are going. We might have a look at Cheltenham in December but he likes it anyway which is the main thing and he’d like a bit of nicer ground in the spring. We couldn’t even dream of going to Cheltenham for the last two years taking on them other horses which were in a different ballpark. It was Mica Malpic’s first time around here and Darragh (O’Keeffe) said he finished it out well and was warming up to it. He’d also like good ground but he enjoyed it and will be back again. He’d 12 stone as well and had to give 10lb to Birchdale. The new layout seemed to ride well. There are no sharp bends and everyone got around safely which is the main thing.
Shannon Royale proves much too strong for 1-8f Tullyhill
I was disappointed with him the last day and put cheek pieces on to sharpen him up. He’d fitness on his side but Jack said he was a different horse altogether today and maybe he just needed the run the last day. His jumping was good but he has been disappointing. We’ll probably look for a three-mile handicap somewhere and see what happens.
Bob Cigar provides Cullentra team with yet another success
He’s a grand horse. We thought he might not be fit enough and Jack said he had a bit of a blow and he’ll come on from it.
Hispanic Moon rises on Irish debut
She did it really well and had been working nicely at home. She obviously had good form and Kieran spotted her. She’s a gorgeous looking mare and I’m delighted with her today. I’d say that’s as short as she’d want and hopefully a step up in trip will suit her.
Imagine forced to dig deep to land Craddockstown Chase
He’s a nice horse and probably wants further. Two and a half miles would probably suit him better. The Grade 1 in Limerick at Christmas could be an option or we might bring him to Kempton on Boxing Day for the Grade 1 novice and run Gerri Colombe in the King George but I could change my mind ten times before then!
Fastorslow lays down Gold Cup claims with battling Durkan win
He’s enjoyed himself and jumped brilliant but just jumping that little bit left has probably cost him the race. We would have been delighted if he was in the first three. It was a tactical, steadily run race and he never gave him too much to do and it worked out well. He went the shortest way round and jumped really well. He was nearly travelling too well for the first mile of the race, he was in his hands a bit. He’s just a very good horse and there is a lot to look forward to with him. He needed to back up that Punchestown run (in April). People might have thought we were mad taking on very good horses in the spring and he’s done the same today. This is very sweet. I knew John (Durkan) very well and this is the 25th anniversary of this race. He’s a horse that takes his racing well so there is four and a half weeks until the Savills. The horse will tell us.
Jody Ted continues on an upward curve
Off his chase rating you could say he’s thrown in but it doesn’t always work out that way. It’s pleasing to get it done. I was worried that it could turn into a bit of a messy race but he was just about okay. He was a little bit keen and in Mark’s hands most of the way round. He had a bit in the tank and stays well. It’s his first time completing a three-mile race so we’re happy with that and he’ll probably go to the Paddy Power (Chase) at Christmas. Off 134 hopefully he’ll get in, he would have the last couple of years and he’ll have a nice weight. He won a couple of races for us as a novice and then unfortunately picked up an injury. Last year when he came back he didn’t have a lot of experience and he’d days where he was a bit impatient. This year he’s been impeccable and is maturing with age. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards for Christmas.
Happy Wife, happy life for Cromwell in Punchestown bumper
He’s a horse that never really showed us a whole pile at home. We ran him in a maiden hurdle in Cork and he ran a lovely race so I said we’d give him a go in a bumper. I thought he’d run a nice race today and be placed so I’m delighted with that. Decie probably got there a tad too soon but he put his head down and wanted to win in fairness to him. He’s not an over big horse and as I said hasn’t shown too much at home but once they show it on the track that’s what you want.
