Going - Soft. Raining
Jackpot Pool - 3,000.00 Dividend - 362.00 Winning Units - 5.8. Placepot Pool - 21,126.94 Dividend - 2,774.60 Winning Units - 5.33. Days Aggregate - 114,699.00 Last Year 189,631.00
Merry Poppins wins for Motherway and Robinson
She is a lovely filly who only came to us in March/April time and was a little bit weak when she came but has strengthened up nicely. I told Dylan take his time as the ground had gone plenty soft for her as she isn't a big framed filly. I spoke to Brian (Acheson, owner) about going down the flat route but I said she jumps like a stag and is a typical Authorised who jumps super. I said I'd love to go for a three year old hurdle and we did. We haven't exactly drilled her and there is still a bit to work on. We'll look at a winners' hurdle next and could also give her a spin on the flat. She is a nice filly and will progress whatever she does. That is Carmel's (Acheson) first winner for me but her husband Brian has had winners in the Robcour colours and they are excellent supports of mine.
Billy's Angel another for in-form Conor McNamara
He always runs well fresh but we were a little bit worried about the ground. Easy, flat tracks suit him and while I have nothing in mind for him next, he could eventually go back over fences. That is Conor's first ride for me and he gave the horse a great ride.
No worries for 2/11 favourite Finest Evermore
Hackett's Jacky is quite Happy on soft ground
He didn't jump fluently over fences but his second run was a good run. Back over hurdles today he jumped himself into it and travelled and he handles summer soft. I'll probably leave fences alone until next season and give him the full season as a novice hurdler so we'll tip away and see what we can pick up with him. He is a nice horse to have in the yard and we gave him a bit of a break with the intention for having him ready for Leopardstown at Christmas, so today is a stepping stone towards that.
No catching Rudy Catrail and Shane Fenelon
It was a good ride from Shane, he won two point to points on him and that's why I left him on him. Shane rides out for me one day a week and is based with Shark Hanlon. He deserved to win a handicap off his mark and he goes on soft ground. He jumps Easyfix hurdles brilliantly but doesn't jump the other hurdles as well. He is a handicapper and we'll see what hurdle or chase pops up again.
The Reaping Race wins a head-bobber
McOwan enhances bumper strike-rate on Breakeven
He is a gorgeous horse who won two point to points. He showed a nice bit of speed in his point to points and we thought he'd win a bumper. Denis Murphy had him previously and I got him in May; he came alive on me in the last week and we were waiting on (easy) ground to run him. I'm sure he has the speed for two mile and he will definitely go hurdling now.