Going - Soft (Hurdle); Soft, Yielding in places (Chase). Overcast, threat of showers
Jackpot Pool - €7,093.69 Dividend - €337.60 Winning Units - 14.71. Placepot Pool - €78,532.84 Dividend - €223.40 Winning Units - 245.99. Days Aggregate - €464,609.25 Last Year €197,213.40
Deep Cave's stamina comes into play
He’s a nice horse and we always liked him. I thought he was going to win in Punchestown and then he just got outbattled. Davy (Russell) felt he went a bit soon the last day, so we said we’d take our time. I’m delighted for the owners who are new to the game. We’ll look to the spring and see what is there.
Sam's Choice comes good under topweight
In fairness Jack said to run him in a big field. He followed them around and it worked out well. He stays that trip well and I’d say he could step up further.
Home By The Lee teak tough in Christmas Hurdle
I was actually worried how well he was travelling through the race because he never does travel well. I thought he was going to waste too much energy travelling and jumping well but he’s a real good stayer. He keeps finding and even when he got to the front he pricked his ears again. I was surprised he beat Bob Olinger in Navan but he really was going well. He was discounted in the betting but we hoped he’d be placed and then come here. He’s always been a fairly good horse. He was a good novice chaser and then lost his confidence jumping fences and we came back hurdling. He’ll probably go straight to Cheltenham now for the Stayers. He likes getting into a nice rhythm and wasn’t beaten a million miles in it last year. He looks a better horse this year.
Conflated stamps his class in Savills Chase
It was unfortunate that A Plus Tard couldn’t run. The race worked out well and Jack gave him a beautiful ride. Paul (Townend) steadied the pace down the pace and Jack let him stride on. He said the faster this horse goes the better he’ll be. I thought Jack was wonderful. He’s not an easy horse and he’s actually starting to settle now. He was very kinky and Jack said he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way up the straight. He jumped perfect all the way. We don’t gallop him a whole lot and he just does his routine work each day. We left him very short in Down Royal and Jack was thrilled and said he’d come on an awful lot from it. I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Irish Gold Cup but we’ll have to talk to Michael (O’Leary, owner) and Eddie and make a plan. It’s great for Michael and Anita as it’s their first time to come racing this season and they are big supporters of Cullentra. They have backed me from day one. There was a lot of talk last season about which race he would go for in Cheltenham but he’ll definitely be going for the Gold Cup this year.
Morris eyes Dublin Racing Festival for Gentlemansgame
He fiddled a few which was good when he got in a bit close, and the faster he was going the better he was jumping. He’ll come on plenty from that. Three miles is his trip and he’ll have to go into Graded races now. He might come back here for the (Dublin Racing) Festival. You only have to look at him and you can’t help loving him. He’s the kind of horse I really like.
Ile Atlantique up and running in Ireland
He’s a nice sort and is just learning on the job. He was very green turning for home and when Patrick asked him, it took a while for the penny to drop up the straight. I think he’s championship bumper class so he’ll be heading down that road. He’ll probably come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.
