Going - Good. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 13,383.65 Dividend - 851.60 Winning Units - 11. Placepot Pool - 34,852.00 Dividend - 58.80 Winning Units - 414.72. Pick Six Pool - 16,638.60 Not Won. Carried forward to Naas on Monday 2nd June. Days Aggregate - 144,616.00 Last Year 86,730.46
Here For The Craic wins Kilbeggan opener
on paper he was the best in the race - he just had to go and do it. He loves that ground and if it was actually quicker for him, it'd be better as he really wants top of the ground. He'll probably go for a novice now but anything he wins now (over hurdles) is a bonus as he'll probably be better over fences in time and will go chasing next year. He should stay 2m4f if we drop him in, but I imagine we won't go any further.
Casey proves super-sub on Greatness
Pink Hat turns on the style at Kilbeggan
all winter she has been running on soft ground but all her wins have now been on yielding or better. She's a small mare and wants good ground and her jumping was a huge advantage today. We decided to make use of that as she had a lot of experience compared to some of the others. She seemed to enjoy being out in front, maybe its because she's small and doesn't like being crowded.
Last-to-first for Kilbeggan favourite Akatara
she is a madam and likes to do things her own way but it's horses for courses. She will run decent races at the likes of Punchestown and Fairyhouse but when it comes to winning she has to come to Kilbeggan! . In fairness to her she has been healthy and sound and she has given us some sport in the last couple of seasons. The plan was to cover her as she has a tremendous pedigree: Willie Mullins paid E90,000 for her half-brother recently at the Sales and her three-parts brother by Galileo is in next year's Epsom Derby. It's a great old fashioned Aga Khan pedigree and we're looking forward to breeding from her. It would be silly go go chasing with her as I think she would sulk and I don't think she'd enjoy chasing. In truth and I don't think we'd enjoy watching her jumping!
Longford makes winning chase debut
Kilbeggan chase win for Gigginstown Stud
he was very good and has been progressing slowly recently. He started on too high a mark over fences and then lost his form completely. The last day he was going to run a good race but two horses fell in front of him and he was impeded twice but still ran well. That was the first spark he showed and it gave him a chance today and he also had dropped down to a winneable mark. Gigginstown like to claim off horses when they have top weight so Eddie O'Leary (Racing Manager to Gigginstown) recommended I use Kevin.
Crawford enjoys better fortune at Kilbeggan
the bit of good ground is what he wanted. He (Stephen Crawford) did the right job by kicking on early as he's a big galloping horse and I told him to make plenty use of him. I said if we didn't make use of him, we may have left him in his box. He is big framed and raw horse and is as light as some of my two year olds. He'll make up into a lovely chaser though and if he's not sold we'll throw him out.