Fed up after seeing my plans go out the window
Everything we wanted to do was tossed aside as the rain absolutely bucketed down. It’s seriously frustrating.
I’ve had a second, third, fifth, two sixths and four pulled up but there were so many I wanted to run that had chances but I just couldn’t. I actually haven’t run half the horses I intended to and even a few of those that did run wouldn’t have liked the ground.
But you wouldn’t take any chances with the younger ones especially. I had some nice, good bumper horses that I was looking forward to seeing on good ground but you’ve got to think of the rest of their careers.
Jetson absolutely hated the ground so I was delighted with him as he ran his heart out to finish fifth. Director’s Forum and The Big Easy were second and third in the last bumper on Tuesday so they ran really well too.
Director’s Forum was sold on Thursday night but the great thing is he is coming back to me so everyone is happy. I’m obviously pleased he’s staying at Commonstown because he is a big, strong chasing type with a very bright future over the big obstacles.
Great credit must go to the team at Punchestown though as they have done an amazing job to have racing at all. It is just unbelievable. We laughed at them as they struggled to water the track sufficiently so that it would be soft enough and then we got that torrential rain.
On Wednesday night, early Thursday morning, they had ten people out out non-stop clearing the track of all the water and laying out a whole new hurdle course. The racecourse manager, Richie Galway is my son-in-law and I know he got back home on Tuesday at 11.30pm and was out again at 5am. That’s just one person. There were an awful lot of people working all night.
They had one chase yesterday but what they were doing was trying to protect the ground for the big chases today and that should pay off.
I think it’s important too to point out that they had the cross-country race and there were no disasters.
It’s amazing really when you think about it. How could it happen twice in the space of four weeks? You have a nose deciding the Grand National at Aintree after four miles and again on Thursday, it was the same in the La Touche. It was bottomless ground and the horses weren’t stopping. They were galloping all the way to the line.
It should also be mentioned that Uncle Junior, who just got up on the line at Punchestown, was carrying 12st 7lbs so that shows that horses can do it.
As usual, I have had been playing the hostess this way, with Nicky Henderson, Michael Buckley and David Minton staying with us. We’ve had some good fun. The social aspect of Punchestown will never suffer because of the weather, that’s for sure!
Maggie Neary runs in the Grade 1 Champion 4-y-o Hurdle today but she won’t like the ground I’m afraid and the same applies to Burn And Turn in the Grade 3 Mares’ Hurdle. She would have a great chance on form but even though she won on soft in Leopardstown, she just doesn’t like it. I just hope they both run reasonable races.
In the Setantabet.com Handicap, a lot depends on which version of The Bull Hayes shows up because we all know he’s a horse with plenty of ability.
I would be quite hopeful with the Maller Tree in the same race as I think he will cope with the ground. He’s such a tough and consistent horse the conditions might play to his strengths.
Violet Lashes runs in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan tomorrow. She was only beaten a length and a half by Kissed in a maiden last year but she might not have trained on as well this year. But there are only six runners so if we could get her placed it would be worth anything.
Go On Murt is having his first race for me in a 47-70 handicap so I’m on a learning curve with him and hopefully will have a better idea of where we stand after that.
The new national hunt season gets under way at Ballinrobe on Tuesday. Hugo De Vindecy has been very unlucky with injury and he makes his return after another long lay-off in a beginners’ chase. He’s jumping very well and was meant to run in Punchestown but that race was cancelled. He loves soft ground and he seems to be in good form.
On Wednesday, Act Of Attrition runs in Dundalk. She’s a nice filly who didn’t run very well last year but she’s strengthened up a lot and I like her prospects.
There are a few in Tipperary then on Thursday, but they might need water wings.
