JESSICA HARRINGTON: France first as I break new ground with Bostons Angel
The Punchestown race was part of that but this is one of the richest prize funds in the series, with €112,000 on offer.
The Pardubice in Czech Republic is the richest, with €178,000 in prize money, and the series ends in Cheltenham in December.
Bostons has come out of Punchestown well and we’re hoping for another typically strong showing from him.
I know he hasn’t won in a while but he’s enjoying it and picking up prize money along the way. He’ll be rested after this before taking some more of these races in the autumn.
The ground was good in Limerick yesterday and though there was rain forecast, I am hoping there hasn’t been too much.
If it doesn’t get too soft, I would give Burn And Turn a very big chance in the Beginners’ Chase.
She is the highest-rated horse in the race, with the best form over hurdles and fences and is getting weight off them all.
Her most recent run in Fairyhouse, when third in my brother’s race, stands up very well.
I give Polished Rock a big shout at the same venue tomorrow.
The key here is that he is coming in a fresh horse with just one run so far this term, while the likely favourite, Hold The Line has had two tough races, finding just one too good for him each time.
Why But Why ran very well in the Charity Race at Punchestown and that should have tuned him up just nicely for a strong showing as well.
On Monday, Davanti is entered in the Curragh and she is a nice filly, while there are some good opportunities of winners in Down Royal if the rain stays away.
Chino Valdes, Beachdale Lad, Operating and Overcall would all appreciate the going as it is at the time of writing.
By Monday, rain is sure to have fallen. It will just be a case of how much.
Cailin Annamh is another who wants good ground. We didn’t run her at Punchestown because of that and plan to get her going over hurdles now. We’ve done a lot of work with her and she jumps well so I’m really looking forward to that if she takes her place.
The ground was much too heavy for One Fine Day at Punchestown last Saturday but she will reappear in a fillies’ flat handicap at the end of May.
Rock The World ran a blinder to be second to another Mullins charge in the bumper.
I was really happy with him and he will go back to Punchestown for a 5yo only bumper. He is a very nice prospect.
We had only two runners during the week but it was great to be able to bring them to Ascot for the good ground. We learned plenty so I was very happy with that trip.
I wanted to see how Steps To Freedom would get on over two miles in that company.
He ran a bit free because they slowed it down and then he didn’t quite get home. He loved the ground so now we know where we’re going from here.
We’ll take him back to Royal Ascot for a mile-and-a-half handicap.
I was delighted with Liberating too.
We discovered that the she needs seven furlongs on good ground as she finished very strongly, but she will be fine over six on soft. So that’s great in terms of planning.
She beat all the other fillies in the race and Luke Morris, who rode her, said that he thought she would win a fillies’ Listed race. So that’s something to look forward to.
