My thoughts are with Fran after horrific fall
They were in front at the time, so as well as suffering a heavy fall, Fran also got kicked from the horse coming behind.
As a result, he has damage done to his shoulder blade, ribs and leg and faces a couple of months on the sidelines at least. He is being well looked after in Blanchardstown Hospital but it’s bad luck for him, as he has had some very bad injuries before. I am sure he will return as good as ever.
It goes to show what can happen in racing, though. Fran was coming off a winner just half an hour earlier.
It means I am not certain still who will ride Ballybacka Lady in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown today.
This is the race we have been aiming her for all season. After weeks and months of complaining about the weather, touch wood, the recent dry, warm weather will continue, assuring us of the good ground she is sure to thrive on.
If she could run into a place I’d be over the moon. She has plenty of black type gotten this year but this is obviously a big step up to Group 1 company. There are plenty of top quality horses competing but Duntle is considered a contender and Ballybacka Lady finished just ¾ length behind her in the Desmond Stakes. She is a pound better off yet Duntle is around 4/1 and Ballybacka Lady is 20/1.
These things never make sense to me. She has consistently gone off at big prices regardless of what her form shows. Also, the ground was soft in that race and it was heavy last time out when she was third in another Group 3 contest. You would have to expect her to improve for the ground and I would say she represents good value.
Fairy Wing just got into the September Handicap and though he’s gotten a terrible draw, I still think he will run a very big race at the weights.
He ran right up to his handicap mark when third at the Stillorgan venue three weeks ago and the handicapper didn’t put him up, which was nice. He will absolutely love the ground and has to have a good chance.
Peggy’s Leg had a nice run in Dundalk first time out and she’s come on for that. I’m happy with her and hoping for a good run.
We have two runners at the Curragh tomorrow. Dane Street runs in the fillies’ handicap. She’s one pound out of the handicap but the more the ground dries the happier I will be. If it rained on Sunday, she wouldn’t run. She is a good filly but she’s never gotten the ground she wants. I’d hope she’ll run a very good race.
Overcall finished third in an earlier mile contest for and runs again in a 20-runner maiden. He has three good runs behind him and we’d be optimistic that this will be another one.
On Saturday in Killarney, Citizenship fell at the third and it was a bit scary as he ran around after the rest of them, jumping hurdles with the saddle after slipping. Fortunately he got around unscathed and is absolutely fine.
Greenbelt Star was the only one of our Dundalk runners who put a good foot forward on Sunday. He ran a really good race. I couldn’t be happier with him. He just couldn’t quite get there. Regal Tramp got first run on him and just held on by a neck.
He was going to run in Kilbeggan last night but that just came a bit soon for him. So the chances are, the next time you see him now is over fences. He has run in a couple of hurdles, winning his maiden last year but he was really only biding his time over the smaller obstacles.
We were always going to go fencing but with the way the ground has been, we didn’t get around to it because he is another that really appreciates a better surface. He jumps well and we’re looking forward to him chasing. In the meantime, if something does come up on the flat, we’ll take it in.
Newberry Hill disappointed very badly in the seven furlong two-year-old maiden at Gowran Park on Wednesday. He just didn’t try at all. We might give him one more run.
Parramatta ran a good race to be third in a good maiden the same day. She might go to Laytown next week. That’s obviously a very different challenge but the reason we put her in there is that it’s a four-year-old maiden over seven furlongs and might just be an opportunity. We’re taking a chance on the surface! She will go hurdling eventually but she’s a flat-bred mare so we’ll keep her on the level as long as we can.
