Going - Hurdle/bumper - Soft (Heavy in places); Chase - Heavy (Soft in places). Cloudy
Trifecta Not Won. Pool of 2,551.99 carried forward to Navan on Friday 25th February. Jackpot Pool - 5,000.00 Dividend - 1,875.00 Winning Units - 2. Placepot Pool - 16,297.76 Dividend - 788.90 Winning Units - 15.49. Daily Double Pool - 495.00 Days Aggregate - 57,037.82 (7 races). Last Year 27,714.00 (6 races).
Hughes strengthens National challenge
He was not really right last year, and it was hard to keep weight on him. He seems to be back to himself, and we put the blinkers on today to sharpen him up. He jumped around Aintree last year in the Topham, and will go for the National now,.
Aura returns to form
We were worried before the last day that she was not sparkling in her work. Whatever that run did for her last time, she's been sparkling since. We were thinking of packing her off to stud before that. Jumping is the main thing with her, and she may go now for the Grade 3 Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick on March 13.
Flutter upsets the odds
I'm delighted to get a win with him as he was second four times in point-to-points. I didn't think he'd handle the ground but he's a natural chaser.
Cyclone blows strong in feature
Andrew felt he didn't like the track, and that they didn't go fast enough. I said beforehand that this would be it for the season but I'll have to discuss plans again with the owners as I'd like to get his jumping better. It's possible he could go to Navan for a novice next month.
Celtic lands odds for Mullins/Townend
He gallops all day and jumps well. We'll probably go for a winners-of-one now before looking at the spring Festivals. He surprised me when he won his bumper, and is alot better than I've been giving him credit for. I hope he keeps improving.
Sheehan off the mark on Billion
Callaghan opens account with Ben