IT IS a very busy week for everyone and the horses still have to be tended to, so we’ll try and get everything done as quickly as possible, to ensure that whoever is working tomorrow can get back home to spend time with their families on Christmas Day.

I have the best staff and they all work so well together. It’s a very busy time of the year, with three meetings on here on St Stephen’s Day and my thoughts on our runners are below.

May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Leopardstown

12.10

Jungle Junction (Finny Maguire)

This will be his first run over hurdles and he has been very unlucky not to have won a bumper – he has finished second in three of them. Finny rides him and he does jump very well. He is in very good form and while this is traditionally a very good maiden hurdle, I think he’ll give a very good account of himself.

Still Standing (Sean O’Keeffe)

He was a good horse for us on the flat and he is one that I am looking forward to running over hurdles. This will be his first start over hurdles but he jumps well, but I think he might just take a run over hurdles. He schooled very well on the Curragh on Monday morning under Sean. If things go right for him, I think he’ll run a good race.

12.40

Exultation (Finny Maguire)

He had a little procedure done his wind since he last ran at Down Royal. He ran a good race up to a point that day behind Envoi Allen and hopefully that wind op will improve him and he seems to be much more relaxed since.

Exit Poll (Sean O’Keeffe)

He ran a bit below par at Listowel, but he’s a nice horse which won his bumper at this meeting last year. We found a little problem with him since Listowel, but he has plenty done and is schooling well and I expect him to run a good race on ground that will be fine for him.

1.45

Gambling Mistress (Jody McGarvey)

She is in very good form and gets in here with a very light weight on her back. I think the drop back to two miles and the better ground will suit her and she has just been a bit unlucky not to have gotten her head in front over hurdles. She has plenty of experience which will be an asset in a race like this and hopefully she is a well handicapped filly.

2.55

Rock The World (Mark Walsh)

He has dropped a long way in the ratings since he won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and I’ve been very happy with him on the lead up to this race. Two miles and a furlong is a good trip for him and I just hope the ground continues to dry out for him. He is in good order and he always runs well fresh.

Limerick

12.25

Instant Return (Paddy Kennedy)

He has plenty of experience and I think that will be important in a race where the majority of the field are debutants. He handles the soft ground and he stays well and he has bumped into a few good horses in maidens this season. He should give a good account of himself.

1.30

Port Stanley (Paddy Kennedy)

He has some very good runs in bumpers and he has been schooling well and we have always thought that he was a nice horse. He may have needed the run the last day at Fairyhouse and he has been in very good form since. He’ll handle the ground and while there are some nice horses in the race, he looks sure to get into the shake up.