Bank on Vital not to lose the plot
I have five rides and let’s just say that if I squeeze one winner out of them, I will be more than happy. Eoin Griffin was on fairly early in the week for me to ride Admiral Barry in the three-year-old hurdle, so you’d assume he’s reasonably well fancied.
I know the horse never won on the flat, but that’s the limit of my knowledge. What I think I know is that the juvenile hurdlers so far, both here and in Britain, are very ordinary.
You can argue it is early in the season and that’s fair enough. But Won In The Dark ran out at the first in this particular race a year ago and went on to become one of the best, if not the best, youngsters in the country.
What can I say about The Patriarch Game in the maiden hurdle? He’s a heart-breaker and has cost punters so much money, you just couldn’t tell anyone to back him.
He worked well the other day, but has worked well at home before and then left it there once out on the track. What drives you mad is that he has the ability, locked away somewhere.
I thought he’d go reasonably well at Listowel, but there was no battle in him when I asked for an effort. Some day he will do it, but I cannot pinpoint when, so don’t come running to me!
Silent Wind got a soft touch at Clonmel last Sunday and tries again under a 4lbs rise in another handicap.
To be honest, I don’t think he deserved to be put up in the weights. The only other horse who counted in the race, Meadow Vale, ran dismally and my fellow was left to do a solo.
He should go well enough and, being very keen, loves to get his own way in front. I hope he can win again, but this is an entirely different matter to Clonmel.
The big race is the Grade 2 chase and, I suppose, Davenport Democrat has as good a chance as any, in a wide open contest.
Forget his effort in the Kerry National at Listowel, where he was pulled up. A horse charged down our inside at the ninth fence and we were nearly brought down. Anyway, he was never a real possibility over three miles and heavy ground.
Two and a half miles today will be far more favourable. The ground too will be a big factor and I’ll be praying the rain doesn’t arrive.
Fakima rounds off my day in the handicap chase. An ordinary horse, who won an ordinary race at Kilbeggan, I’m not especially holding my breath for him.
Tipperary tomorrow is a bit more promising. It’s not that I’m aboard any good things, but do have better quality rides.
I ride Heavenly Blues for my father in the big Grade 2 hurdle and expect a big performance from him. He made no show in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh last weekend, but never settled at any stage for Chris Hayes and you can draw a line through that effort.
He won his last race over flights for me at Cork and the heavier the ground the better. I’m well aware he has it all to do at the weights, but has a great each-way shout.
If Artiste Bay is going to win the Grade 3 novice chase then he’ll have to do a lot better than at Listowel. I’d imagine whatever beats Footy Facts will win.
I beat that horse on Northern Alliance at Listowel and Footy Facts will surely strip a lot fitter now. We went no gallop and it played to Northern Alliance’s strengths.
I’m looking forward to Vital Plot in the Grade 3 novice hurdle. He finished a remote last on the flat at Cork, but is wonderful jumper and this is his game.
I’ve won on him at Kilbeggan and Down Royal and he was hugely impressive both times. Heavy ground is not an issue with him.
Lucky Wish is the one I fear the most. He left me down when only third at Galway in July, but we won in a canter prior to that at Roscommon.
He was beaten before he started at Galway, getting himself all worked. If you’re at Tipperary, and fancy him, then have a good look at the horse walking round the ring before he goes out.
Finally, I have to say a word about the going descriptions in Ireland and there hit-and-miss nature. It is time the Turf Club grasped the nettle and ensured a far more professional attitude.
I have a serious gripe about the ground being called the same when National Hunt and flat racing are taking place over the same track.
What might be good to soft for National Hunt is almost certainly soft for the flat. When you hear the flat lads call the surface firm, you can be sure for us it’s rock hard.
The Turf Club has to move on this and far more accurate going descriptions have to become the norm rather than the exception. The old ways are simply not good enough any longer.
