WE are all still all on a high after Aintree and I thought Magic Of Light was fantastic when she finished second in the National last Saturday.
It was a late call to run her, but when we schooled her over the National fences on The Curragh with Sandymount Duke, she was brilliant – she was just so quick and accurate over them. It was unfortunate that Sandymount Duke had to miss the race due to a little setback, but after she took to the fences so well, we decided that we’d let Magic Of Light take her chance.
Paddy was brilliant on her and I watched the race with Jackie and Willie Mullins and it was just so exciting. I kept willing her on and Willie’s horse was bang there too and it was just a great race to be involved in.
I thought for a while that she might win, but then Tiger Roll went on before the last, but to her credit, she kept galloping right to the line. It was a very brave performance from her and from Paddy who got a great ride form her.
She has come out of the race very well, but she has done enough for this season and she will go on her holidays. When she comes back in, the plan is that she’ll be aimed at those mares chases and hurdles, both here and in England and we’ll try and get her back to Aintree next season.
IRISH NATIONAL
Regarding the Irish National, we are looking at running Whisperinthebreese at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
We’ll see what is left in the race next week, but I hope the weights won’t go up too much. He likes a bit of nice ground and I see they have to put some water on the track today. He fell at Cheltenham, but before that he was very good when he won over two miles and five at Leopardstown and the fourth in that race was Cadmium, who won the Topham last week.
He was second over three miles and a furlong earlier this year at Punchestown and that suggests that he has every chance of getting the three miles and five at Fairyhouse. I’ve been very happy with him since Cheltenham and we’ll have another update on him next week.
