Time to reflect before big guns emerge at Down Royal
The big question in my own mind was whether we could carry on what we did last year. We upped our numbers of flat horse and it’s unbelievable that I’ve had such a good year. Before racing got under way at Dundalk last night, I was on 29 winners and let’s hope I reach the 30 mark. It would be a lovely milestone. There have been a lot of seconds too and a lot of horses running well.
I was getting a bit paranoid about going to England after Pathfork, Laughing Lashes and Siren’s Song, even though I’ve never had any problem with the jumpers there, but with Bible Belt’s run at Ascot last time, that was put to bed - even if she didn’t win.
She has been one of the great successes for me, improving all the time to progress from handicap company to winning a listed race, a Group 3 and then only being beaten by the Oaks winner Dancing Rain in a Group 2. She will be in training next year, as well as Bob Le Beau, who just never stops improving either.
We have three or four two-year-olds that are rated over 100 and plenty of other horses rated over a 100, with plenty of two-year-olds rated over 90. So there’s a lot to look forward to next year.
I didn’t make a conscious decision to become more active during the flat season. It just happened. I’d always had a few horses and I suppose it’s the same old thing. Success breeds success. You get a better standard of horse and I’ve been lucky that some quality horses came in again last year.
We’re losing a few, as Laughing Lashes and Silver Sycamore are going back to the States, while Pathfork went back earlier this year. But that’s the natural order of things.
It’s very exciting to have a good colt again and Dragon Pulse’s form stands up to the closest scrutiny. You’ve got Remember Alexander, Princess Sinead and Absolute Crackers that are nice and will improve.
Then you have Violet Lashes, Dane Street, who’s a lovely filly, Maid To Master and Shamarbelle. They’ve just had their educational run and will definitely improve for next year. Hopefully there are some well-handicapped horses too to win some handicaps with.
We’re sort of in that lull period between the end of the flat and start of the national hunt for me but I still had some interesting runners in the past seven days.
Jenari jumped alright in his racecourse debut over the obstacles at Galway but just didn’t get away from his hurdles quick enough. He’s a horse that will improve for that. He’s come out of it well because he didn’t have a hard race despite being second. I’m very happy with him and he got a great experience.
I was happy enough with Hebridean in his first run back for more than a year. The ground was a little heavy for him and he’ll go to Down Royal, I think. He came out of it well but it’s just a question of getting him back fit and well. He’s a class horse.
I was very pleased with The Engineer, who came second in the bumper. He needed the run and will come on for that. He’s going to go straight over fences now. I schooled him this week and I was delighted with him. He’s an exciting horse and, while we would have liked to have won a bumper with him, chasing was always going to be his game.
Burn And Turn was a bit free in the bumper when third. It was a bit heavy in the straight for her but she wasn’t knocked around and the other two fillies were race fit. So she’s going to head on towards hurdles now.
Meitheamh fell at Clonmel when cruising. She actually jumped it well but A Little Swifter, who went on to win the race, just jumped across her a bit, they clipped heels and she went down like a pack of cards. She’s been a bit unlucky now, coming across some good ones on her way, but she came out of it fine which is the main thing and her day will come.
Mystic Desir is the first of our three runners in Naas today. He was bought out of France for me. He’s been placed over there but is still a maiden. He’s a very nice horse but we’re still on a learning curve with him, and today is definitely part of that.
Beir Bua should run very well in the handicap hurdle. He won in Listowel and then ran well when sixth in Limerick, but the ground was very heavy. That race has worked out well though and Bonifacio, who finished just a length in front of him, has won since. He seems to be in good order and with the ground not as heavy as it has been, we can expect a big run.
Gimli’s Return is having his first run since the Goffs Bumper in which he was sixth in. Hopefully he’s strengthened up over the summer. Again, whatever he does tomorrow, he’ll improve for it but he’s smart.
I run a nice mare, Celtic Cailin in the bumper in Wexford tomorrow. It’s her first time on the track and she is as fit as I can have her given that it’s her debut. She has shown well at home and I’m looking forward to seeing her in action.
On Monday, Glamorous should go close in a maiden hurdle at Wexford, while Serein and Chaperoned could go in Thurles. After that, it will be Down Royal, where the big guns will be coming out.
