WE have plenty of runners this weekend at Punchestown and we also send Conron to Cheltenham on Saturday, but a quick update on Sizing John, who worked after racing at Naas on Saturday.
We were very happy with him and he worked on the flat. He is entered in The Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and that race remains the plan. It’s over two and a half miles and we’ll step his work up in the meantime, but he has come out of last weekend in very good form and all is good with him.
My thoughts on my weekend runners are below.
Cheltenham – Saturday
3.30 Conron (Robert Power)
He has a lot of weight on his back, but my main concern is the ground. All his best form is on better ground, so hopefully it’s loose and he’ll get through it okay. He has been in very good form since he won at Punchestown and we’ll see how he gets on, but he travelled over fine and despite the fact that he has top weight, I hope he runs a big race.
Punchestown – Saturday
12.50 Press Conference (Paddy Kennedy)
He has been schooling well over fences and he is a smashing horse to go chasing with. He won his maiden hurdle last season and he’s a horse that appreciates soft ground. This looks a very good race with Faugheen in the line up, but Press Conference is in very good form and we are looking forward to getting him started over fences.
2.35 Ashdale Bob (Paddy Kennedy)
He’s a lovely young horse from a good family. We like him and he should handle the ground and he has plenty done, but this will be his first start on the track and on paper, it looks a very strong looking maiden hurdle. I expect him to improve for the experience and hopefully he’ll run a nice race.
Sunday
12.45 Neverushacon (Paddy Kennedy)
He has been a great servant and has won seven races under rules, but the handicapper has a good hold of him, so we’ll go down the banks/cross country route with him. He schooled around the track on Tuesday and he enjoyed himself, and the plan is to aim him at the banks races this season.
1.40 Light That (Robert Power)
He’s in very good form and he ran well the last day at Navan on the flat. We are leaving the blinkers on him, as they seemed to revitalise him at Navan and hopefully, they’ll have the same affect again. He always runs well around Punchestown and he runs off a nice mark here, so I’m hopeful that he’ll run a nice race.
2.15 Mr Hendricks (Robert Power)
He’s a nice horse which won a point to point for Kate last season and he’s a horse that we’ve always liked. He is a big staying horse and I’d imagine that he’ll be competitive over hurdles before he goes chasing. He is a big chaser in the making and he does stay very well.
