IT'S been a good week and I was thrilled with Magic Of Light at Newbury. She won like an odds shot should and throughout the race, Robert said that she was crying out for a bit of company and a lead.

She has gotten much stronger and the long term aim is the Aintree National, but there is a good mares hurdle for her at Ascot next month and that will be her next port of call.

✅ No Tiger, no problem

Grand National second Magic Of Light returns to winning ways, landing successive renewals of this Listed contest @NewburyRacing for @Jessica_Racing & @Robbie_Power_ as Field Exhibition comes down at the last! pic.twitter.com/SlBYfximXW

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 18, 2019

We have no racing on Sunday so we can enjoy a rare Sunday off and I’ll have an update on my principal runners over the Christmas early next week.

My thoughts on my four runners at Thurles are below.

Thurles

12.10

Discordantly (Paddy Kennedy)

He’s in very good form and the three mile trip and the soft ground will suit him, but it just goes to show how competitive racing is over here, that just a few days before the busy Christmas period,  you have to take on Max Dynamite in a beginners chase at Thurles. He is a very classy horse and he’ll be very hard to beat, but our horse is in very good form and he has come forward since he ran here the last day (Milan Native finished in front of us on that occasion) and with a good round of jumping, hopefully he’ll get into the shake up.

2.30

Polished Steel (Paddy Kennedy)

We’ll change tactics a bit with him this time and we’ll drop him in and ride him to arrive late. He has won around here in the past and as he’s getting older, he is handling this softer ground better. He threw in the towel a bit the last day at Fairyhouse, so we are putting a pair of cheek-pieces on him and hopefully they will help him. He has the ability to get involved in a race like this.

3.05

Silver Sheen (Danny Mullins)

He was very good down here the last day and we have been waiting for this race for him and I think he’ll appreciate the step up to two miles and seven. He is improving with every run and despite the fact that it looks a competitive race, I couldn’t be happier with him and I am expecting a big run from him

Rapid Response (Paddy Kennedy)

She has a bit to do on ratings, but this looks a nice race to start her back in. She will appreciate the trip and the soft ground and she will improve a good bit for the run.