I Knew Supasundae Could Outstay Faugheen

I thought the Dublin Racing Festival was a huge success.

A fantastic initiative was rewarded with some fantastic racing. There were a couple of upsets and a couple of stars fulfilled their potential too. Something for everyone.

Supasundae

We were taking Saturday’s Irish Champion Hurdle as a prep run for Supasundae so if he had finished 2nd or 3rd we would have been delighted. To get the better of Faugheen and win the race was just an absolute bonus.

We went a nice even gallop. I thought after the 2nd last that Faugheen was going to pick up and leave us all behind but Supasundae put his head down and…

…once we stayed within striking distance I knew that coming to the last, we could outstay him.

Supa has only had three runs this year so it was a good idea of Jessica’s to run him over 2 miles instead of a 3 mile slog. Hopefully it will all work well for Cheltenham.

Samcro

Samcro is living up to all of the hype.

There just is no inadequate trip for this horse. He can run 2 miles, 2 ½ miles, 3 miles, it won’t make any difference to him with his high cruising speed.

If I was Eddie O’Leary or Michael O’Leary I’d be thinking of having a crack at the Champion Hurdle. It’s wide open this year. After Buveur DAir the strength is not too deep in that race.

In saying that, if he goes the Novice Hurdle route, he’s going to be banker of the week.

Our Duke

I was absolutely delighted with Our Duke coming into Sunday’s Irish Gold Cup. Realistically it was his first run of the year after the non-event we had at Down Royal.

He was a little big ring rusty at the start but the further we went, the better he got.

I still thought we had a big chance coming to the second last but unfortunately he made a novicey mistake.

Hopefully he’ll improve an awful lot from the run and the pleasing thing for me was when he picked up the straight he stayed galloping away. That means there’s plenty to look forward to with him this season.

He’s got loads of options, The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the BoyleSports Irish Grand National, the Punchestown Gold Cup. Hopefully he’ll be picking one of them up before the season is done.

Edwulf

What a mighty performance from Edwulf in the Irish Gold Cup.

I was lucky enough to win a handicap chase on him in Naas last year before he went to Cheltenham. He was running a cracker in Cheltenham before things went amiss so well done to all of the veterinary team in there who did a fantastic job to save the horse.

I think it’s an absolutely unbelievable training feat by Joseph O’Brien to get that horse back and winning the Irish Gold Cup after the problems he’s had.

Another great training performance this weekend was from Henry de Bromhead. Monalee is excellent on his day and the one they all have to beat in the RSA.

Cheltenham Prospects

I got a great thrill out of riding Special Tiara on Saturday and he is really coming back to himself. I think on better ground at the Cheltenham Festival he will put on a great show in the Champion Chase. Henry has done a great job with him.

Min was exceptional in that same race. We went a good gallop all the way and he jumped and travelled perfectly. In my opinion he’s won the best Champion Chase Trial between England and Ireland so far this season.

On the subject of the Cheltenham Festival, although we saw a great run by Footpad yesterday, albeit slightly keen in Paul Townend’s hands. I was very impressed with Petit Mouchoir though. I think there’s more to come from this horse and they’ll be a lot closer when the Arkle comes around in March.