Pathfork fine after Newmarket exertions
The 2000 Guineas was over in the first hundred yards. Anyone who saw the race knows that Frankel was absolutely phenomenal. Those that didn’t, I can confirm what they read. He was just amzing, amazing, amazing.
Pathfork lost his action slightly coming down the hill and when Fran realised he wasn’t going to be in the first three, he was easy on him. He’s come out of the race fine but we’re just not sure where he’ll go next.
Laughing Lashes absolutely flew for the first three furlongs in the 1000 Guineas but once she hit the downhill slope, it became apparent that she didn’t like the hard ground at all. She will hopefully go for the Irish 1000 Guineas now.
We had five seconds since Sunday and until Burn And Turn won the bumper on Thursday, we were wondering if we’d hit the net at all. With Punchestown being the local track, it’s nice to get a winner and with Kate riding, it was special. I said last week that the bumper horses would go well and that has been the case the whole week.
I was absolutely thrilled with Banksters Bonus who just got beaten at Gowran Park by Adilapour. He hit the front inside the final furlong by John Oxx’s charge just came back to pick him off. Remember Alexander ran green enough in the Curragh maiden behind Aidan O’Brien’s Power. She got a bit hot but if she had gotten any run in the race at all I think she’d have won. But she didn’t have a hard race and we’ll probably go for a listed race at Naas next. The rain that fell yesterday means plans for all of these might change now.
Glanusk was very unlucky and was just pipped, while Bob Le Beau was never going to beat a four-time Group winner in So You Think but was a very good second.
At Punchestown, Maller Tree and Magical Memoir really came up trumps to finish second, but obviously Roberto Goldback was very unlucky in the Gold Cup falling at the last when in front. These things happen and you can’t get upset about them when they do.
We know for sure now that he stays three miles in top class company on good ground so we know where we’ll be going with him now next year. He’s been a bit unlucky this year but he’s run really well throughout the season and will go on his holidays now.
The rain made no impact on Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle yesterday and he won as he liked, confirming once again what a brilliant horse he is.
Overall, it’s been another fantastic week at Punchestown. The crowds have been great but the team there deserves massive praise for producing the best ground I’ve seen. And that was some feat considering that until yesterday, we had no rain for five weeks.
I have three runners at Punchestown today and the rain hasn’t come at the right time for Chasing Cars or Got Attitude, both of whom go in Pat Taaffe Chase. If it goes soft, Chasing Cars will not run. Got Attitude will still probably take his chance but I really don’t want any more rain for him. He didn’t get into the Irish National but he’s in great order if conditions were to suit. I’d just love it to stop raining. If it does, Got Attitude would have a good chance.
Law Rebel is a nice horse who is having his first run in the bumper. A five-year-old High Chaparral gelding, he has been working very nicely and I would be hopeful that he would run well, as all my bumper horses have been doing this week.
You never know for sure first time out. Sometimes they surprise you with how well they go and sometimes they disappoint you but I like this one and think he might have a good future.
