Greenbelt Star one to note at Killarney
Both remain on target for the Irish Oaks and the Minstrel Stakes over the weekend and I am perfectly happy with how they are at this stage. We certainly wouldn’t mind more rain around the Curragh for Laughing Lashes but regardless of what happens with the weather, I’d be looking forward to a big run.
I was delighted with Forever Glory’s maiden victory at Leopardstown on Thursday. Fran was very cool on her and even if it was very close, with just a head to spare, she was always comfortable and never looked like being beaten. It was a completely hands-and-heels job by Fran, who wasn’t hard on her at all.
I was pleased with that because the ground was a bit of concern. There was rain everywhere but in Leopardstown and the ground ended up being firm. She would definitely like it on the soft side of good.
She is still developing and is a very big filly so we’ll give her a good bit of time and you’d have to think there’s better to come from her. We’ll be hoping to step up in distance and in quality and I would be looking forward to some good days with her in the future.
Of some of the others that ran, Crystal Morning came up against an improving horse in John Oxx’s Dawariya and ran well to be second. I was disappointed with Hudson at Naas but the ground went pretty soft and if it stays good we may run him on Sunday when we would expect a definite improvement. Fuschia Belle was also disappointing in Roscommon on Tuesday but she got herself dehydrated which would explain why she ran so badly.
The ground was too quick for The Quiet Hawk and Banksters Bonus in Roscommon on Monday, while the day before in Limerick, Galzig didn’t come down the hill and Got Attitude decided not to jump a fence at all. He’s done that before with me so he’s going to have an intense schooling session in the indoor school.
Takeyourcapoff really put it up to Jumbo Rio so I was delighted with that, while the ground was too quick for Space Race. Native Palm just isn’t doing what we thought he might and there’s no escaping that. He’s a bit quirky.
Canaille is our only runner today, making his racecourse debut in a seven furlong two-year-old maiden at Tipperary. He’s a nice chestnut colt out of Giant’s Causeway. I hope he’ll run well and would prefer that we don’t get too much rain for him.
We’ve had some nice two-year-olds out already such as Princess Sinead, but I wouldn’t say we’ve seen the best of them yet. There are quite a few more to make it to the track and while you’re never sure until they go racing, I would be confident enough in saying that the best ones have still to run.
Tomorrow, provided the ground doesn’t get any softer than good, Hudson would be in with a good shout at Fairyhouse but we know from during the week that there’s no point in sending him out on soft ground. Steps To Freedom is running to get a handicap mark because, even though he’s won a flat race, he couldn’t be handicapped on that.
As I said, we have a lot of runners during the week, with the likes of Seader, Serein and Dundrum getting ready for Galway. Lady Geronimo ran nicely on her debut in Limerick last month and should contend in Killarney on Monday. Later in the week, I’ve been waiting for ages for Paradis De Thaix and the ground should be okay.
On Thursday, I’m looking forward to Greenbelt Star running in the novice hurdle. He’s run in a couple of flat handicaps since winning his maiden hurdle in Punchestown in May but he did that well. He jumps well and is one I have high hopes for.
Bob Le Beau will run in the Listed Challenge Stakes on Thursday in Leopardstown and though Gimli’s Rock is entered, I’m not sure if he’ll take his chance yet. There will be a few more runners in two-year-old races, handicaps, hurdles and chases so it’ll be as hectic as this weekend will be quiet. But hard work never killed anybody.
As a board member of Horse Sport Ireland and Eventing Ireland, I was invited to the test running of the Olympic venue for the three-day eventing at Greenwich during the week. It was interesting because it’s right in the middle of London.
It’s on a hill so it will be quite a stiff test, while there will be plenty of twists and turns too because they’re a bit tight for space, unlike Kentucky, where they had acre after acre.
I like being able to keep in touch with eventing and to do a bit as a board member. It’s very important to me given that I spent so many years involved in it, although it was easier to ride than to watch Kate doing it.
She doesn’t find it a problem combining the eventing with the race-riding. Again, it means she’s very busy. Over the weekend, she will be competing at Barbury Castle but will be back in Killarney on Tuesday. Like I said, we don’t mind hard work and anyway, it keeps her out of trouble!
