Starling ready to fly

We are coming off a terrific weekend that yielded three winners, with six of the other seven runners all finishing in the first four.

Apart from Cheltenham, when things just didn’t go our way, it’s continuing what has been a great couple of months for us. Hopefully that will continue coming into Fairyhouse and Punchestown, and as the Flat season gets into full swing.

It was lovely that Fairy Wing could give Fran (Berry) a winner at Dundalk last Friday night on his first ride back after suffering a fractured ankle in Tokyo more than four months ago. It will be great for his confidence. He was delighted, as was the owner, Rose Vaughan.

Fairy Wing did it very well and was back out at Leopardstown on Wednesday night where he finished fifth. The ground was a little bit soft for him so we’ll give him a bit of a break and come back in three or four weeks.

I was delighted with Beachdale Lad finishing second at Gowran Park on Saturday. He was beaten by the better horse in Loch Ard but beat everything else well.

He jumped really well for his first hurdle race so he’ll run in a similar contest and probably have a summer campaign as he’s had a good break and good ground could be the key.

Maggie Neary ran a great race but having travelled like a winner, she just got stuck in the mud in the last furlong and a half to be third. She got great experience from that though and now heads for Fairyhouse.

Pontiac delivered in the Last Chance Saloon and his experience really stood to him when winning the novice chase. He was very good, he jumped brilliantly and he loved being ridden so positively, making all to win by almost four lengths. He will go for a handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

Saville Row was much better when third in the handicap chase. The better ground and riding him positively was the key to him.

The one real disappointment was Lady Temptress, who trailed in last in the bumper after I had been expecting a big run. We couldn’t find any reason for it either as everything came up clear so it’s just a case of back to the drawing board and try again. But she’s better than that.

Then at Down Royal, Gimli’s Rock was up to his old tricks again. He’s very hard to get a handle on. He ran fine until he came past where he came onto the racecourse and then he dropped the bit. He’s a monkey but we’ll try him over chases now and see if that concentrates his mind.

Gimli’s Return really appreciated the better ground and he was very game in winning. I’d hope he’ll win another one of those. There’s a 2m 2f novice handicap at Fairyhouse and he could easily go there next.

Then we had the flat season getting under way, with a great crowd turning up at the Curragh. Princess Sinead was third in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes and she just didn’t get out in time. She would appreciate a bit better ground as well. She could well go in the Guineas.

Violet Lashes was probably beaten by two very good colts. Again, the ground was just a bit tacky for her. She’d have preferred it either a bit looser or a bit better.

Leopardstown had a huge crowd on Wednesday as they had their students’ night and if only a quarter of them come back and bring people with them, it will have been a massive success. That’s the sort of thing racing needs to attract new supporters.

Dame Street and Posh Frock both ran in a very hot 3yo maiden. Dame Street was third and she will come on a lot for the run. I was delighted with her as she was only beaten 4¼ lengths, without being knocked about. She might need to go a bit further. Posh Frock ran much better than last year and will like better ground.

Silver Sycamore wasn’t beaten that far after getting squeezed up on the rails at just the wrong time. They’d watered the ground too much for her as well.

I’m delighted with Law Rebel, who’s having his first run over hurdles at Navan today. He’s jumping well. Beef To The Heels finished behind Maller Tree so I would have thought he’d beat him, while Flying Light was second to Noel Browne and that was a good run.

Law Rebel hasn’t run since August but he’s done well over the winter, I hope I have him fit enough and I’m very happy with him.

Kate rides Starling Lady in the handicap hurdle. She should get 2½ miles in the ground, which is the big factor for her. With Kate claiming seven, she will have a very nice weight at 10st 4lbs and she should run a big race.

I think Mystic Desir has a great chance in the colts’ and geldings’ maiden at Limerick tomorrow after his much improved effort when just touched off last time out. Hopefully they’ll go a good gallop and on better ground, he’ll just sit and wait.

Play The Market is stepping up to 2½ miles and he’s got better ground than when he won his maiden. It’s a tidy little race, with lots of horses that have won. Scots Gaelic won very easily in Wexford.

But we won easily enough in Naas in conditions that didn’t suit. He wanted further so Robert (Power) made plenty of use of him that day. He won’t have to do that this time around and the better ground will be appreciated too.