Going - Soft, Soft To Heavy In Places. Windy
Jackpot Pool - €4,283.00 Dividend - €60.30 Winning Units - 58. Placepot Pool - €36,026.24 Dividend - €17.90 Winning Units - 1403.29. Pick Six Pool - €25,000.00 Dividend - €729.10 Winning Units - 24. Days Aggregate - €175,665.00 Last Year €108,868.00
Authorization puts controversy behind him
It is nice to get than one and we are delighted with him. He has a net over his nose, it is like a muzzle but he can breathe through it, it just makes him back off the bit a bit, and it makes it easier for the jockey. Paul said he was little keen going to the first but after that he was putty in his hands. He was able to ride a race on him today. This horses biggest problem has been his temperament as he has been too keen and he has been killing himself in races. The last day, even though we got in trouble, was the first day he actually finished a race. It is nice that he has won well and he jumped well.
Mallowney proves too good for Ned
I thought that was a good performance. He jumped like a real two mile chaser. I know he likes this place but he will have to go somewhere else now. He is in at Leopardstown or we might look at the Flyingbolt for him. We will step him up in grade and see what he can do.
Briar Hill made to work hard for Slaney win
He is improving all the time. It was a nice performance giving the weight away and they are two good horses. I imagine I might give him another run before Cheltenham, we will see, I haven't anything in mind. It probably wouldn't have been his preferred ground. He is lazy and Ruby said the minute he passed the winning post he dropped it. He only does enough all the time. He jumped well and I was pleased with his jumping. Hopefully he will keep improving, he is bred to get a trip, although he seemed to have plenty of speed on better ground. He will get an entry for the three races at Cheltenham (the Supreme Novices, the Neptune and the Albert Barlett), but I imagine we will be looking at the Neptune or the Albert Bartlett, depending on what other runners we have.
Luke & Cawley complete their hat-trick
He came for this race last year but he had a hard race at Punchestown and he was probably a bit tired. This time around he hadn't as a hard race beforehand. Brian gave him a textbook ride, he was everywhere you wanted him to be. He had to ask him at the last as he was in that position. The horse is in good form, we got him as a nine-year-old and we have him three years now. That's his ninth win and there is no sign of retiring him at the moment. There is possibly another hurdle in him off his rating. He owns us nothing from a long time ago and anything we get is bonus. The horses are running really well and we have had a good week. We have had four winners including a winner in England (since Christmas).
Market gets it right as Crawford bags another
She will probably like a bit better ground and a longer trip. Her family is all staying pedigrees. She had to stay well enough there. Her jumping is good and she was always getting a breather at her fences. She was passing horses and Paul was able to sit and take a hold. It is good to get her back and get a good run over fences. She needs that kind of track and the plan is to run her until the end of the season and then cover her. Patricia (owner Patricia Duffin) bred her and she is half-sister to Fine Rightly so it is great for the family. She will probably go to Thurles (for the Grade 2 Mares Novice Chase on January 16th) next if she comes out of this okay.
Welcome win for Fox as Getout obliges
It wasn't a great race. He has been second the last couple of times so it is nice to get his head in front. He travelled a bit better today and he had a hood on for the first time. We will go for something similar now. I wasn't going to run him, but he got three pound for finishing second the other day, he was running off his old mark here so that is the reason I ran him back so quick.
Champoleon takes the bumper for Meade
He is a nice horse and we have liked him all along. He is a half-brother to Ange Blanc, and unfortunately we couldn't get him back on to the track but hopefully we will at some stage. We also had a full-brother to Ange Blanc and we fancied him (Gold Turtle) for a bumper at Punchestown, but he started gurgling turning in. We sent him for an operation then but he died on the day. We have a full-brother to this fellow as well.
