Our Duke Was Unfortunate But Will Be Flying In No Time

Our Duke scoped very bad after the race at Down Royal on Saturday.

Our Duke
He was a bit unfortunate. He was fine the day before the race. His scope was clean. He went off in the race and he had a dirty scope and that’s just part and parcel of racing, these things happen.

It’s similar to a human having a cold; when you’ve mucus in your lungs you won’t be able to run properly.

He should never have travelled in the race but that’s just the way these things go.

I knew pretty early on in the race we were in trouble. Going up to the first fence he didn’t have his usual gust, he jumped it big and slow. I gave him a tap on the shoulder after and there was no response.

It’s unfortunate but horses can’t talk to us and tell us if there’s something wrong. Hopefully he’ll be flying at Christmas.

We’re not sure when his next run will be. He’s on a course of antibiotics now to get this cleared up. He might run in the John Durkan otherwise it will be Christmas.

Outlander
Aside from our disappointment Outlander ran a great race to win. He’s always been a very good horse. Enigmatically he can be very good or very bad. He was a Lexus Chase winner last year and when going through the form he was always one horse that you’d fear. He’s come back to his best and is rejuvenated.

Castlebrook
I was absolutely delighted with Castlebrook finishing second in the opener at Cork on Sunday. Joseph’s horse had a run under his belt and that stood to him in the end, my horse is a big horse and whatever he does this year will be a bonus.

Woodland Opera ran well enough to finish in third. The ground was very soft in Cork. He wouldn’t love that sort of ground but he ran OK. He is a horse that will go much better when getting better ground.

A Sizing Network
I had to pull up A Sizing Network unfortunately. He travelled well for a lot of the race but when he went to quicken he just couldn’t do it. He’s a lovely horse but he just couldn’t handle the ground.

All his previous form had been on nice ground, he just got lost in it here. I think he’ll go on a break now for the winter.

Melbourne Cup
I’m absolutely thrilled for Joseph O’Brien winning the Melbourne Cup with Rekindling. It was a brilliant training performance and an incredible achievement to do it as a 24-year-old.

He’s already a top class trainer and he has a very bright future ahead of him.

To win a race like the Melbourne Cup is just the kick start that you need and to beat his Dad into second also is amazing.

Somehow I don’t think Aidan will mind! Then for Willie Mullins to take third place just sealed the deal; a truly incredible result for Irish racing.