Going - Hdle/Bmp: Soft, yielding in places Chase: Soft to heavy, heavy in places. Fine
Jackpot Pool - 16,138.00 Dividend - 76.60 Winning Units - 158. Placepot Pool - 34,295.12 Dividend - 32.10 Winning Units - 800.8. Pick Six Pool - 3,000.00 Dividend - 2,250.00 Winning Units - .5. Partial Carry Over of 1,500.00 to Naas on Sunday 10th February. Days Aggregate - 512,105.29 Last Year 614,266.00
Grade 1 Triumph for Our Conor
he (Our Conor) spoke for himself there! He is the real deal and is definitely stronger today. I was still surpised the way he won, he hardly came off the bridle. He goes on any ground and real good ground will suit him well. He met a lot of his hurdles wrong today but was still quick over them and jumped two out very well. Bryan said he was off the bridle early on, but when he got to three out he latched back onto it. He finished his race well and it is great to see him staying so well, that's what he'll need for his next race (the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham).
Summer Stars with late flourish
she has done everything right and got a great ride! At the second last, I thought the other horse (Norrah Star) had flown but she came home well. She is nicely bred and is a dual bumper winner but today was the first day she jumped well. I ran her in Punchestown (behind Champagne Fever on heavy ground) but I shouldn't have, as it flattened her and took quite a bit out of her. She had a bit of a break after that. I could tell you today was the plan but it wasn't . I thought she might be placed but I'm delighted she won.
Champagne regains sparkle
it's a huge relief to get this fellow back on track - we're always afraid when a horse gets an infection like that which might ruin his season. At least he seems to have come back to where he was though. It wouldn't be a problem going out in trip with him but we'll stick to the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Boston Bob wins thrilling PJ Moriarty Chase
Champs wins Hennessy for that man Mullins!
we were hoping he would do that at Christmas but his jumping errors left him too far out of the race at the second last. He got his jumping right today and probably the drier ground helped, plus there was only four runners and the one ahead of him (stablemate Quel Esprit) gave him a good lead. I thought he got low at the early fences and I thought to myself that he would have to improve, which he did. Davy was very good on him . he inserted pace four out when he looked around and saw that Flemenstar was going so well. He had to do that to win and make a staying race of it. The further he was going, I thought the better he was going. I was worried early on had Quel Esprit gone fast enough, even for himself as he is a galloper, and needs plenty of pace. Paul (Townend, jockey) reported that he blew up and that he is now really coming back to himself.
Fourth win for the Mullins monopoly!
Salsify gets better of Tammy duel
the ground was a bit drier today . it was sticky crossing the road and from the turn-in to the last it was soft but other that that it was better than I thought. He is coming along nicely now and is timing it just right. He'll get a week off after this and then we'll aim him at Cheltenham. Hopefully he'll come on another bit and he's at the same stage as where he was last year.
Debut bumper win for Griffin's Azorian
that's my first horse for Gigginstown and it's nice to get one on the board for them. We've been waiting a while for one like that and I think he's a nice horse. He won his point to point well and also did it well today. I'll talk to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary) but I'd say that might be enough for the year. I'm pleased and relieved with the way he did it as we've been excited about him for a while. He was ready to run last spring but he was too immature and he is still a big baby. In his point to point he didn't settle a yard and Nina said when he hit the front today he didn't know what to do. He has a lot of maturing to do and we'll take it one step at a time with him.