Going - Yielding, good to yielding in places X-country Good to Firm, firm in places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 10,000.01 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Friday 30th April. Placepot Pool - 45,715.76 Quadpot Pool - 4,029.94 Dividend - 67.42 Winning Units - 65.75. Days Aggregate - 217,625.00 Last Year
Jimmy's Jiving Jerry wins Joinery Hurdle
he's been very consistent, he came on well from his last two runs and in fairness to him he had the form. That's brilliant and the horse deserved it as he's been very consistent all year. He's an easy horse to train - he turns up. That's his third win and is for my most important owner - my wife (Yvonne Hennessy) and my niece who led him up so it's great. He seems to thrive on racing, if you look at his form, the more he gets the better he gets. Galway could be in the plans and he could probably go on the Flat as well. He'll go on any ground and he's by the right sire which makes a big difference.
UK winner keeps Torrens on the Pigsback
he's always been a lovely horse and this season has made a bit more of a man of him, he's done Cheltenham, Aintree and today. The main person that needs a mention is Richie McLernon who has ridden him in all his work and has schooled him, he's done a lovely job on him. He ran really well at Aintree. I felt he'd freshen up for coming over here and it would be his last run of the season before he goes back to Martinstown. Cheekpieces just came into mind a few days ago and I mentioned it to Frank (Berry, McManus' racing manager), whether they made any difference I don't know. The way the race was run suited him compared to an end to end gallop at Aintree. They went nice and sensible pace and that helped, he filled him up and gave him confidence. He jumped well. We've had two seconds with Regal Encore here before and were beaten a neck and a short-head in a mares handicap here with Cresswell Breeze so we've been hitting the bar so I'm delighted. If the races were all run like that in Ireland he'd maybe be as well to come over here a few more times to other meetings and we'd certainly try and come back here next year.
Banjo completes Ladies Cup/La Touche double
it's unbelievable but as I said before it's a family success and it's all about the Walsh family. Aaron, Barry's brother, owns him and their father John trains him for all the point-to-points so this is just an honour for me. They have banks at home to school their horses and I've run them in the banks races for them for a number of years and we absolutely love it.'. two years ago he got a little cut on a hind leg and was a bit sore so didn't turn up in the La Touche. I always thought that he'd be better over four miles than three and I was questioning whether he should have run in the Ladies Cup the other day so this is just marvellous. I've seen him running in the point-to-points for John and he'd look slow. We ran him in a few hunter chases to have him as fit as we could go today and he was so outclassed by a lot of those horses in Fairyhouse a few weeks ago. When he goes out there he just latches on to the bridle and he loves it. He's so small, nimble and fast over these fences. He's very good at it.
Klassical keeps Coleman's Dreams alive
unfortunately his owner John Coleman didn't live to see him winning at Cheltenham but Joanne (his wife) had his ashes in her handbag so, anyhow, up he popped in the winners' enclosure! . This win is fantastic for them as he is a family horse but missed a year. David Casey, who rides him at home, kept saying how well he was working and got it right. Patrick was quietly confident all week and I was hoping for his sake he was right. He could stay staying hurdling or go novice chasing — looking at the size of him in the parade ring, anyone would love to ride him down to a fence because he has a really good method of jumping. Staying hurdling is very hard on horses and I'd rather go chasing and if it doesn't work out, he could always come back. Paris (Auteuil) in June might call if we are allowed over there, as he has had such an easy time. James Du Berlais (runner-up) ran a cracker and is one to look forward to going over fences next year as well.
McManus registers 100th Festival winner
Energumene returns with Ryanair rout
Townend rides 99th winner on Gauloise
she was very good. I was disappointed with her in Cheltenham and I've been expecting a performance like that out of her all year. I think I probably wasn't hard enough on her. I was quite hard on her coming here and it seems to have paid off. She's a tough mare and is probably tougher than a lot of mares. I think she's going to improve away next season. I thought early on in her career she could be top class and now I think she's back on track again. I'm delighted for Kenny Alexander and she's another nice mare to add to his portfolio. I'd say she's crying out for another half mile. That was a searching pace there and Paul wasn't going to let the one in front away. Even when she looked outbattled at the second last she came out around then. Paul thought she was idling going to the last and she ducked out to the right, which she's done before when she's hit the front, but that's a sign that there is plenty left in the tank.
Willie edges clear in 'Mullinsbury Cup'