Going - Heavy (Inside Track). Raining
Jackpot Pool - 3,000.00 Dividend - 1,909.00 Winning Units - 1.1. Placepot Pool - 41,720.59 Dividend - 54.80 Winning Units - 532.53. Pick Six Pool - 4,394.15 Not Won. Carried forward to Punchestown on Wednesday 15th January. Days Aggregate - 93,884.00 Last Year 123,444.00
Owner/trainer Hickey wins Fairyhouse's opener
it was an ordinary chase but she won well. She's been a bit unlucky as she didn't get her ground last year. That was really her problem and she loved that there today. She won a hurdle race at Clonmel a couple of years ago on heavy ground and hasn't really had it since. Hopefully she'll keep going. Sean is riding with great confidence at the moment.
Castle Oliver wins on handicap chase debut
that was great. I don't have him that long, he came from Joseph's (O'Brien), he's a lovely big horse. I'd say they went a bit fast on that ground and Jody took his time, it was the right thing to do. It's nice to get a winner for Mr McManus. I don't know where he'll go now but he's a staying chaser and could go for something similar. He jumps and stays.
Shumaker resumes winning ways
we were worried about the ground because the rain hadn't stopping coming here. Darragh gave him a lovely ride. He got a nice lead around, was patient and stayed out for a nice bit of fresh ground. We'll see how he is and we might look at the big meeting at Leopardstown and see what is there for him. He was unlucky at Leopardstown the last day as another horse galloped into him and he lost a shoe.
Nash strikes Gold with bonus winner
she had been schooling over hurdles and fences and is naturally a very good jumper so I couldn't believe she fell here (on New Year's Day), I suppose any horse can fall. Aine (O'Connor) rode her a couple of times in bumpers and she was just too slow. Today again she came off the bridle turning in but the farther she'll go the better she's going to be. She's a grand mare and works better at home than a few of the other mares that have won. I was surprised she didn't run better in a bumper but obviously she just wants a proper trip and something to jump. She's something to look forward to hopefully. The young lad is still going well with that 7lb and it was for very important owners, the wife and and the mother-in-law. She also got a five grand bonus there for fillies so it was a good day out.
Brett steers outsider Grey Habit to first win
Elliott's consistent performer gets off the mark
he deserves that as he's been knocking on the door all his life. It's nice he got his head in front, the owners are good supporters of the yard. We'll find another little race for him, he's a grand horse and he'll be a grand big three-mile chaser one day.
Mullins newcomer wins concluding bumper
I was relieved they didn't call off racing (which passed a 7.45am inspection). I wanted these conditions for this fella as he galloped very well in these type of conditions at home. He's a staying chaser, that's what he is really. I'll have a chat with Patrick and see if he wants to go for a winners bumper with him. I'll maybe have a chat with the owner as well and see if he wants to hurdling this year and chasing next year. He's an out-and-out jumper rather than a bumper horse. Ian Ferguson had him and he said he's a right jumper. We've jumped a few hurdles with him but never jumped fences. Ian schooled him and thinks he's a right type. He'd know so I'm happy to take his advice.