Despite an indifferent round of jumping, the 11/10 favourite Shadow Rider landed the featured veterans' handicap chase under Aidan Kelly.
There was plenty of chat about several runners ahead of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race and there must be every chance that the form of it will be worth following through the year.
Doyen Ta Win (15/2) is a potent front-runner on her day and made all for a wide-margin win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
The long-absent Mossy Fen landed a few bets in the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle.
Willie Mullins is taking nothing for granted ahead of what could be a thrilling conclusion to the British trainers’ title race at Sandown this weekend.
Weather has always been the number one topic of conversation in Ireland which is most odd considering we don’t actually get extreme weather events like other countries and for the most part we don’t even have seasons.
Up to last Saturday it had rained almost every day since July, but that hasn’t stopped our population discussing the weather incessantly. Weddings, funerals, business meetings, casual encounters in the street, every conversation starter is invariably about the weather.
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from Monasterevin, Co Kildare and I'm riding since I could walk really. My grandad used to have a few of his own horses. None of my family would really be into racing, but I got into riding ponies. Then, when I was about 11 or 12, I started pony racing which is a great place to start. It gives you loads of experience of race riding and gets your brain set up for the track. My cousin Aidan Melia supplied me with more than 20 winners pony racing. He was very good to me and got me going. I was all over the country pony racing up to Donegal and down to Kerry and sometimes over to Scotland as well. When I was about 11, I was in with trainer Seamus Fahey and he was very good to me. He got me going riding racehorses and gave me loads of experience riding work. I was always small when I was young and everyone used to tell me I should be a jockey. Thank God I stayed that way and my weight is good. I wouldn't wake up more than eight stone every morning. Hopefully, things stay like that.
Willie Mullins pulls clear in the title race | Irish Angle
Vincent, Johnny and Emma discuss all of the major talking points from the past week
By John O'Riordan - Trainer Philip Fenton, who has been amongst the winners of late, can add another here courtesy of former course winner JERIKO DE BAUNE. The five-year-old was successful over 2m4f here last November, before later proving his stamina for this trip when winning at Fairyhouse. Having run well when third in a better contest at Cork last time, the gelding looks poised to strike under Niall Moore. A two-time winner over hurdles in Perth, Gordon Elliott's Themanintheboots rates a serious threat under jockeys championship leader, Jack Kennedy. The six-year-old had run well on a few occasions in this country prior to his UK raids. Point-to-point winner Sam Magee has faced some stiff tasks in maiden company, so should appreciate this lower grade. He doesn't need to improve a great deal to get involved.
