Going - Cross country: Soft (Soft To Heavy In Places) Hurdle/Bumper/Chase: Soft. Fine and cold
Jackpot Pool - 6,217.09 Dividend - 725.30 Winning Units - 6. Placepot Pool - 61,346.00 Dividend - 64.70 Winning Units - 662.85. Pick Six Pool - 2,787.00 Not Won. Carried forward to Down Royal on Wednesday 4th February. Days Aggregate - 272,304.00 Last Year 231,606.00
Ballyboker causes surprise in banks' race
he (Ballyboker Bridge) wants a bit better ground and all the work is down to Gary and Michael Bates who I bought him off. They told me he was a good one and they were right. The rest is history and here he is now at 33/1 - there's plenty of room in the pond for the little fish.
Cooper goes beyond Recall on front runner
that was a good performance as they went a hell of a gallop and he quickened up after the last. He's very tough and needs a good gallop, so Bryan went on. We bought him after he won his point-to-point and he stays forever. He doesn't mind that ground and will have no problem stepping up in trip. We'll see how he is after that and then make a plan.
Bentelimar gives Barry a first big training win
Pertemps Qualifier winner to bypass Final
the commentator wasn't sure which of them it was and I wasn't sure myself! But I thought the other horse (13 year old Whatuthink) could hardly be going that well at his age. I'm delighted with that and delighted with the way he battled. He had it all to do there and dug deep and it looked a goodish race and you'd have to think he has improved. We've done very little schooling with him since the last day as I wanted to school him on grass and the land was very frosty. His jumping has improved with each run and today he was really taking them on. Three miles definitely doesn't bother him but he could drop back in trip. He won't be going to Cheltenham as he's a young horse and I don't think he's ready for that, as there's a lot of hustle and bustle and also the travelling. I think he might be a nice horse in the future and could go to Fairyhouse instead and might be entitled to run in a novice later this month.
Hidden Cyclone wins Tied Cottage Chase
I couldn't be happier - we're so used to being second so it's good to come here and win. The better ground helped; they were giving it as heavy two days ago but it dried out a lot in the last couple of days. He jumped well today, never put a foot wrong, and I'd say that's the best he's ever jumped. He also did something today which he hasn't ever done and that is settle; Andrew (McNamara) said going to the start he thought there was something wrong with him but we've done a lot of work at home getting him settled and I have to thank my staff who have put in a lot of work. Over two miles he's good and he has plenty of cruising gears and I'll to speak to the owners but I'd say the Queen Mother is the plan and he'll go straight to Cheltenham now.
Embracing grabs four-timer in National Trial
General Principle wins bumper by 22 lengths
he's a lovely horse and obviously has a big future. We haven't had him very long nd he may have one more run in a bumper as we wouldn't want to lose his novice status this season. I wouldn't imagine he'd go to Cheltenham.