EVERYONE is counting down the days to Cheltenham and all our festival horses are in good shape. They have a few more bits of work to do between now and then, and I’ll have an update on our Cheltenham team next weekend.
Our horses remain in good form and Forge Meadow ran very well in defeat when she finished second in the Red Mills Hurdle last weekend. I’d say the winner Darasso is a smart horse and he looked very good on the day, but Forge Meadow picked up more black type at Gowran and she is a very valuable commodity and the plan is to retire her at the end of this season. All the spring festivals are there for her.
I was thrilled with Coromandel Lady when she won her bumper impressively at Thurles on Thursday and we’ll try and pick up some black type for her in bumpers, before she goes jumping next season. Thurles was just her second start and she picked up well in the straight and won very well and there should be more to come from her.
Here are my thoughts on my weekend runners.
Fairyhouse – Saturday
2.15
Morosini (Jody McGarvey)
He is a nice horse that came to us from France. He has taken a bit of time and we are still learning about him and he is very much a work in progress. It won’t be easy for him taking on more experienced horses in a Grade 3 on his first start over here, but we think he’ll handle the ground and we should learn a good bit more about him after tomorrow.
2.50
Polished Steel (Robert Power)
He won very well the last day at Thurles and he deserved that and he has been in great form since and that success has done his confidence the power of good. I think the step up to two and a half miles will really suit him and he’ll appreciate the good ground. With fifteen runners, he’ll need a bit of luck, but I’m delighted that Robert is doing the weight (10st 4lbs) on him. He has a nice bit of experience now and he jumps well and if things go his way, he has a big chance.
4.00
Magic Of Light (Robert Power)
I have been delighted with her this season and this will be her final start before the Aintree National. She has developed into a very solid staying chaser this season and she gets all the allowances and looks well suited by the race conditions. There are some good horses in the line-up, but the further she goes, the better she is and while she might prefer slower ground, she has proved this season that she is equally effective on good ground. The trip was a bit short for her the last day when she finished second at Huntington and I’ve been very happy with her since. I have left a bit to work on for Aintree, but she is in very good form and I think she goes there with a great chance.
Naas – Sunday
2.30
Impact Factor (Robert Power)
It’s a pity that the original top weight wasn’t declared, as it means that he carries 11st 10lbs which isn’t ideal, but he has been running consistently without winning over fences. He ran very well the last day over two miles at Punchestown and I think he’ll appreciate the step up two and a half. Goodish ground should be fine for him and he jumps well and he is getting his act together over fences. There are plenty of nice horses in the line-up and I’ve said it before, it is very hard to win a beginners chase in Ireland – he is rated 134 and he has been placed on his last three starts and the form his penultimate run at Gowran has been well advertised, as the horses that finished behind him in third and fourth that day, have come out and won since.
3.00
Jetez (Robert Power)
He is in good form and he is the highest rated horse in the line-up, and it looks a good renewal of a race that we won two years ago with Forge Meadow. It’s always a good race and two miles really suits our horse, as does the good ground and he’ll more than likely bowl along. You can forget his last run in the good handicap at Leopardstown and before that, he was a good second in a Grade 2 at Punchestown. He has the form to be a big contender in this and while there are some unexposed horses in the line-up, he goes there with a very big chance.
