Saludos should relish the return to two miles
Yesterday wasn’t a day to remember however. Bostons Angel is going to need a pair of blinkers in the future. He jumped alright but was never travelling. He just wasn’t killing himself and it was a very hard race for Robert in the saddle to try to get him interested. In a strange way, he did well to get within six and a half lengths of the winner.
He was a bit like that over hurdles and won with blinkers on over flights so, hopefully, they will do the job again next time out, which will be at Leopardstown over Christmas in the Lexus.
We brought Serein over in search of some good ground but they had very heavy rain overnight and then it froze, so it was very sticky, horrible ground. That ruined any hopes we had and put the seal on a very frustrating day. I’d be lying if I said I was full of the joys of life on the plane trip back.
But as I’ve said here frequently, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth. That’s just the way racing is and there is plenty to look forward to today at Fairyhouse.
Gimli’s Return gets us off to an early start in the first division of the maiden hurdle. I was pleased with his first run at Punchestown a fortnight ago when he was a bit keen, so it was no surprise to see him weaken towards the end.
It was a good race though and he has always jumped well so I’d be expecting an improved performance today, as he’ll have learned a lot from that run.
Citizenship was put up 15lbs for his win at Punchestown the same day, which I thought was a lot even if he did win by nine lengths. He surprised me with the ease of that win and the fact that he coped so well with soft ground.
Given the hike in weights, Kevin Sexton is going to claim his seven pounds. Citizenship has obviously improved and this is a good opportunity to bag a big handicap, even though it is a very competitive contest.
Saludos goes back in distance again for the two mile handicap chase, as he doesn’t stay two and a half miles in very soft ground. He has to give a lot of weight away to some good horses, but he is the winner of a Grade 2 chase so he is entitled to be in that position. He’s in good form and should relish the return to two miles.
Saville Row has had his one run over fences and he should be better for that in the beginners’ chase, while Espresso Lady has her first run since beating Shadow Eile by nine lengths at Navan in the Irish Racing Yearbook Bumper. Shadow Eile has won a maiden and a novice hurdle since then.
All of my horses have tended to need the run on their first outing but Espresso Lady’s form suggests that she should be in with a good shout, although there are three other bumper winners, all of which have run more recently. Charles O’Brien’s Kick For Touch, who will be ridden by Nina, will probably strip the fittest, having been second at Cork ten days ago.
Jenari was a bit unlucky at Gowran Park last Saturday when he was hampered by the loose horse but he still ran a good race to be just a length behind Cash And Go, who is a fair horse. They were 11 lengths clear of the third. Glamorous ran very well to finish fifth of the 17 runners. The key element of that was that he settled well so we can move on from there with him.
Saluting was third in the bumper but he just wasn’t a bumper horse. At the end of the day, he’s a real chaser in the making but will go hurdling first.
A bad mistake at the second last probably cost Jetson third place in the Monksfield Hurdle at Navan on Sunday, so I was happy enough with him, even though there was no catching Mount Benbulben and Rebel Fitz on the day.
We may be in the thick of the jumping season but the flat remains in focus for us.
Unfortunately Bible Belt didn’t get into the Hong Kong Vase. That was a real shame as she was in terrific form. Poor Fran wouldn’t have been able to ride anyway, after breaking his ankle in a fall over there. I was speaking to him earlier this week and he hopes to fly home next week.
We are breaking yearlings at the moment and have broken three colts, with five fillies currently going through that process. The two and three-year-olds will be back with us in January and there is a lot to look forward to amongst that group.
Chief amongst them of course, is Dragon Pulse. I visited him this week and he looks fantastic. He is back on the walker and I couldn’t be any happier with the way he’s looking right now.
