Great to get back among the winners
Unfortunately though, we had to pull Bostons Angel out of the Lexus Chase as he just wasn’t quite right. He’s sound and will go for the Hennessy.
It was a pity because the race was really run to suit him and when you see Synchronised, who’s a handicapper, winning it so easily, there is definitely a thought of what might have been. But he wasn’t 100% so it wasn’t to be and we’ll just have to look forward to the next day.
We took Saludos out as well because the ground was too quick for him. Of course it rained on the last day, which is typical. He likes a good dig so we might look at Thurles next week.
Espresso Lady, Cinder Rua and Gimli’s Return all ran well, without getting their noses in front. I was delighted with Saville Row up in Down Royal and he will go for a three mile handicap next.
Citizenship ran a terrific race and was very unlucky as he just got squeezed on the turn into the straight at the time that Ruby was making his run. He was catching the winner all the way but just couldn’t get there. I think he’s progressive and could go for the MCR Hurdle.
I was delighted, too, with Oscars Well, who finished third in the Istabraq Hurdle. He had to do a lot of the donkey work, hitting the front early because we needed to make a race of it. A lot of people think he wants further but he has plenty of speed in a true-run two-mile race.
This was the first time that he jumped well all the way and travelled well. He is just beginning to come to himself so I would expect there is more improvement to come. The Irish Champion Hurdle is the next port of call as he has come out of the race very well.
Jetson was very good in winning the Pertemps Qualifier. He travelled well all the way and was fortunate enough to avoid the carnage that took out four or five horses early in the race. There was a bit of scrimmaging then as they turned into the straight but it didn’t bother him and he stayed on very strongly to win comfortably.
He has obviously been running in some high class contests and was off a good mark here, while the better ground definitely suited, as he had been operating on bottomless ground in Navan the last two times.
We haven’t any plans made for him yet. He’s still a novice and it’s likely that he will end up running in the three-mile novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival. He will get a couple of entries in Cheltenham and if he gets in at the bottom of the Pertemps – and I think this win should do that – that could be the target.
I was also delighted with Maller Tree in Thursday’s bumper. He ran a cracker to be beaten just under two lengths by Mumbo Jumbo, and it was 20 lengths back to third. He will go hurdling now and it looks like he will travel on any ground.
I have only three runners over the weekend. Feabhra runs in the bumper today at Punchestown. She ran well when fourth first time out and I think she has improved since then, which would suggest that she should be more competitive.
I kept True Character for the maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse tomorrow but not for the first time, a few others had the same idea - including Willie! It looks a good race but judging by the two runs back after a lengthy lay-off, he is in with a good chance.
Mosstown wears blinkers in the handicap hurdle. He ran at Leopardstown on Wednesday and travelled very well for a long time before deciding that he had enough, so hopefully the blinkers will straighten him out. If they do, he would certainly be in with an opportunity and we’ll hope for the best.
He ran his first race in 11 months at Fairyhouse earlier this month, so his fitness should be right now. He certainly looked like running a very good race during the week before deciding against it so I think there’s more to come.
