Going - Hurdle - Yielding Chase - Yielding, yielding to soft in places. Overcast
Ideal Pal belies inexperience to win on handicap debut
I was afraid of the ground after yesterday. The Tough As Nails' do go with a bit of give in the ground but they don't want it exceptionally heavy and I was worried about that coming here today,. I was pleasantly surprised that he was able to handle that ground and he jumped so well, we're very happy. I don't know where we go now. That's his first run in a handicap, we might look at Punchestown but a lot of the bigger handicaps are closed. We'll find something similar for him and it's grand to get that.
Iberique Du Seuil wins Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse
That was great and it's nice to get a winner, we've had a winner each day and it's very important,. Jack gave him a lovely ride and I'd say getting tightened up turning in probably suited him. It's great for Noel and Valerie at their local track, they are great supporters so it's brilliant. We thought before today we'd be looking at some like the Lartigue at Listowel. I'd imagine we could look at the Galway Hurdle. He likes that nice ground and looked to travel a bit better on it.
Capilano strikes for the O'Dwyers
That's fabulous. It's not a huge surprise, he's always had plenty of ability and been very consistent,. He lost his way a bit since Cheltenham, we went back to Musselburgh and the vets said he was a bit stressed both times. He doesn't travel. He missed the start one day here and went to Cork and ran a nice race (finished fifth). I said to Charlie today over two-five not to hang about. I mightn't have meant to do what he did, he really took me at my word!. He was second to Capodanno in Punchestown last year over three miles so he stays very well and once he was travelling that well, and had a nice weight, he did the right thing. It's unbelievable to have a winner on Easter Monday and get the horse back on the winning trail. Hugo has been an unbelievable owner for us and he has kept the place going for us.
Darasso proves able deputy in Grade 2 Hurdle
I was probably in front a bit too soon but I didn't want to take him back. He has been a great horse for me; that two Grade 2's we have won now. He's a great horse, he turns up every day and runs his race. That's all you can ask for,. He's a little bit short of Grade One level but all you can ask for is that they do their best and he's a joy to have around. Luke gave him a great ride, he has a great rapport with the horse. You can go two miles, three miles in a chase or hurdle and you kind of know what you are going to get with him. It's very unusual for a horse to be like that. Probably somewhere in the middle is his optimal but if there is a suitable race you can let him take his chance. I'm delighted for JP and Frank (Berry) and everyone to have a winner here this weekend, it's great. I'm not sure what's in Punchestown for him, we put him in the Champion Hurdle and he might sneak around there and see what happens. We'll see how he comes out of today, this race was the target.
Game collects again in Devenish but race marred by fallers
It was a little fortuitous. I thought the horse would need the race but he finished out very well and jumped well,. I'm very happy for Nick Peacock, the owner. It's disappointing with Janidil falling and the other fella unfortunately didn't make it. Unfortunately that's the ups and downs of the game. He is a big loss. I haven't had a chance to talk to Paul (Townend) yet but I'm not sure if he had a heart attack before the fence as he didn't get up at all.
Lord Lariat gives Dermot McLoughlin back-to-back Irish Nationals
Our plan was to jump him out but I was a bit concerned about getting the trip,. Obviously we wanted to get a start like we did last year and utilise his jumping as he is a good jumper. Paddy said he got plenty of breathers into him and it all worked out well. We've been aiming for this since before Christmas. He won a ladies race here in November when he ran away with the jockey, Joanna Walton, and she said then that he would get further. It was two-miles-six that day. We were lucky to get into it as well. We're ten minutes down the road, there was nobody here last year but my family and everyone is here this year, all the yard and it's unbelievable. Paddy started off with me five or six years ago, he was going to be a Flat jockey for a while. He went over to England and tried the Flat there but had no luck and came back and rode a couple of winners for me on the Flat. I said 'Paddy forget about the Flat, you're going to be a big lad' and he took to jumping like a duck to water. He won a couple of hurdle races and it went from there, he's flying now. He comes into us now two mornings a week.
Defi Bleu fights back to win under Fitzgerald
That was great. He gave him a good ride, he jumped and galloped so it was grand,. I thought he wanted softer ground but he seemed to like that ground.
Hunters Yarn wins Fairyhouse Finale for Mullins
He did that nicely and he has improved the whole spring,. He's going to be a really nice prospect going hurdling next season. He jumps well, he won his point-to-point. We were going to go hurdling this season but it got a bit late and we decided to try and win a winners bumper, he's won a nice one here. We'll probably put him away now.
