Hoping to unravel Mystic’s desire to win
We have made our entries for the big races. Oscars Well and Gimli’s Rock are in the Istabraq Festival Hurdle, Jenari is in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Saludos is in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase and Bostons Angel is in the Lexus, although I have nothing for the Paddy Power handicap this year.
All are well at the moment and Gimli’s Rock is back from a wind operation, so I’m hoping he will show the benefits of that.
There is plenty of racing between now and then. I have five runners over three meetings this weekend and they would all have each-way chances at least.
I’m hoping now that we’ve learned about Mystic Desir after his two runs since coming to us. The first time in Naas, he went off in front but faded towards the end, while we dropped him out in the Listed hurdle at the same track last month.
We think now that the way to ride him is to have him prominent, without being too prominent. Dropping back down to maiden company, you’d be hoping his experience will count, especially if there’s a nice, level gallop.
True Character ran well to be fifth to Formidableopponent at Navan two weeks ago in what was his first run in almost a year. He jumped sketchily but we have schooled him extensively at home since then. We have four flights of hurdles at Commonstown and he went over them three times, so we expect his jumping will be better. He will be that much fitter too so he has a good chance.
Galzig runs in her first handicap in Cork. I think she’s off a fair mark. Whether I’ve got it right or the handicapper has, we’ll find out. Inexperience could be an issue, but like True Character, we’ve given her plenty of schooling so I’m not really worried about that.
I’m looking forward to Saluting running first time over hurdles at Punchestown. He jumps well, two and a half miles will suit and the ground shouldn’t be a problem either.
Beachdale Lad’s form has worked out well as he was fourth to the aforementioned Formidableopponent last month. I don’t know how strong tomorrow’s bumper is but he’s an improving horse and you’d think he’d have to be one of the contenders.
We had five runners at Fairyhouse last Saturday and while none of them won, I was happy with all their efforts apart from Espresso Lady, who was a little disappointing in the bumper. Having said that, it turned into a sprint at the end, which wouldn’t have suited, and she just might have needed the run.
Gimli’s Return improved a good bit to finish fifth in the maiden hurdle won by Gigginstown’s Toostrong, while Citizenship ran a blinder to be third as a novice in only his second handicap against good horses in Staying Article and Montan.
Saville Row was a big improvement too in the beginners’ chase won by Sir Des Champs. He jumped a million times better than in Gowran Park the previous week, so we were pleased with that.
Saludos is suffering from second season novice syndrome, where they have a reasonably good first novice season and are then high up in the handicap. He’s just caught a bit between two stools and it’s hard to place him. Finishing third behind two experienced handicappers in Lastoftheleaders and Peak Raider was a good effort in his first handicap, with him giving away 12 pounds to the winners and 20 to the runner-up.
He is entered in a two mile handicap at Leopardstown but we also have him in the Grade 1 chase. I know they’re better than him but you have to be careful because if it cut up, there might be an opportunity of running into a place.
Before last night in Dundalk, the only runner I’ve had since was when Chasing Cars finished third to Backstage in the Open at Lisronagh point-to-point on Sunday. I was delighted with that, in what was only Kate’s second ride over points.
I hadn’t been to a point-to-point for a while and I was really impressed by how organised it was. This was a marathon day, with so many divides that there were 13 races. And it all went off perfectly, with races starting on the half-hour.
It’s great to see the Government only cut €1m from the Horse and Greyhound Fund and that they seem to be progressing towards taxing online and phone betting, as well as the offshore companies.
There are so many people involved in racing, right down to point-to-pointing. There was a terrific crowd at Lisronagh and the quality of horse running was fantastic. A lot of the trainers might only have three or four horses, and it might be a family affair with no direct employment, or one or two people employed. But they all use blacksmiths, they all use vets, they all feed their horses. That’s what needs to be remembered.
