Going - Soft To Heavy. Fine
Placepot Pool - 15,862.39 Dividend - 39.60 Winning Units - 249.49. Quadpot Pool - 2,336.74 Dividend - 5.50 Winning Units - 310.08. Days Aggregate - 124,515.00 Last Year 162,654.00
Second win for Webb on 'Fortria' day
he was a bit unlucky last year after he won his bumper. He unseated Denis (O'Regan) here one day and had a few little hiccups here and there. I'd say he's a nice horse. He'll go on for a novice now and we'll see what way the handicapper rates him. He'll come on a bit from the run as he only had one piece of work. He made a mistake at the second last which didn't help but he was great at the last which was the one we needed.
N'golo wins For Auction Hurdle
it worked out for us. The tongue-tie probably helped on that ground. If you forgive him the run in Kilbeggan he's done nothing wrong for us in fairness to him. I think he's stepped up again today, to carry the penalty, and it was a nice performance out of him. He could go further, definitely, and even today we thought in that grade two miles might be sharp enough for him. I opted to take a lead and try and get him to do things right because we have to iron out a few of those problems that he showed early on. He's winning and that's the main thing.
Pertemps plotter wins Lismullen Hurdle
Another sweet success for McNally in Troytown
I'm emotional! He's only a pony and going around the paddock against those big horses he was dwarfed. I walked the track early, I went down to the last and then to the open ditch and thought 'am I wise doing what I'm doing'. Paul (Townend) was majestic on him, I told him to ride him with confidence and if he could get to the third last without any real drama, he'd have a great chance because he does all his best work in the home-straight. He was rated on his chase wins, which was good, but they were in poor races. I wanted to save his mark for a big pot and it's a pity for 'Tubs' (son Kian McNally) who is at home. It would have been unbelievable if he was here as he does a lot of work with him at home. It's a pity he's not able to share it with us. Usually I wouldn't get emotional but straight after he passed the line I didn't know what to do!. I'd like to dedicate the win to Johnny O'Connor. He owned the horse before he was tragically killed in a car crash. We call the horse JJ at home in memory of him and I like to think he's looking down and helping us. Ciaran Fennessy also deserves a lot of credit for buying him and producing him as a young horse.
Castlegrace Paddy wins Fortria Chase
he obviously likes it here, it's a fine galloping track which the likes of this horse needs. He jumped brilliant and himself and Bryan seem to get on very well. Hopefully we can keep going in this direction; he won the Hilly Way before but didn't have a great year after that so we won't get too carried away. More than likely we'll look at Leopardstown over Christmas. He's beaten a horse (A Plus Tard) there that will probably improve a lot but so will ours. I'd rate him a serious horse. We'll talk to (owner) Stever Parker of Clipper Logistics, Joe Foley and Bryan (Cooper) and make a decision. Maybe if the ground was good you'd be looking to go up in trip but on that sort of ground I think that is his trip.
Easywork makes winning chase debut
I thought it was a good performance. He said he hurdled the second a bit but was foot perfect after. He's having a good blow and I think he'll be better when he steps up in trip. I was happy. He's in the Drinmore but I don't know if that will come a bit too soon. We might find something a bit smaller first and then we could look at Christmas for a Grade 1. He'll come on plenty from that and I think the further he goes the better he'll be as well.
'Old' Youngnedofthehill wins dramatic Navan handicap
that was brilliant. I got as big a kick out of that as I did when Charlie Stout won the big race (Dan Moore Memoral Chase) in Fairyhouse. I don't think there is anyone in the country that would begrudge him a win, for his age he's been so consistent and genuine. He makes it a little bit tough on himself as he has to be ridden that way, from behind. It's hard to get that just right but he got it perfect. I know the McManus horse (Pike County) looked to be going well but our lad was finishing strongly. Who knows what would have happened. He was due his turn anyway. We'll try and keep him in a higher grade with weight off his back. He's 13 now in the New Year but he loves racing and we'll keep going as long as we can.
Further final flight drama in the finale
it think that track suited him a bit better than Ballinrobe as he's so big. His future is probably going to be chasing. I think there is a similar race over two-and-a-half at Fairyhouse at the Drinmore meeting. That could be a target for him. We'll probably keep him hurdling until the handicapper gets to him. We can go chasing then, he has a mark over fences.