Finian’s Oscar Strong Possibility To Put On A Show At Punchestown

It was brilliant to see Finian’s Oscar bounce back to form at Aintree.

Finian’s Oscar
He had a few jumping issues and he still didn’t jump 100% the way you’d like him to jump but now that he is after winning a Grade 1 over fences, it will do his confidence the world of good. There’s a strong possibility he might come to Punchestown and run in the three mile Grade 1 Novice Chase.

Colin Tizzard’s horses were in great form all throughout Aintree and last year he brought his gang to Punchestown also and they all ran very well including Finian’s Oscar. Hopefully he will come this year and put on a show.

Might Bite was very good at Aintree. He put on a jumping exhibition and ran very well. It was a strongly run race and he put on a mighty performance.

Other Aintree Rides
Supasundae ran a great race finishing second to L’Ami Serge. It was disappointing not to win but there were no excuses on the day. He jumped very well and he came there to win the race but you have to remember L’Ami Serge is also a very good horse. When things go right for Supasundae on the day, he is a very good horse.

Overall we were delighted with his run.

He has run in Grade 1 races all season and he hasn’t been out of the first three the whole time.

Vision Des Flos ran a little flat, finishing second to Lalor in the Grade 1 Novices’ Hurdle. He didn’t travel as well as he did at Cheltenham. The softer ground on Friday probably wasn’t ideal for him either but he stayed on well. He is a horse to be very excited about next season though.

The Melling Chase was a great race. Sizing Granite ran a cracker on ground he hates. He is a proper good ground horse. We were absolutely delighted with him and it was a thrilling finish between Politologue and Min. It really was an amazing race and Min lost little in defeat.

Topham Chase
Shanahan’s Turn ran a cracker in the Topham over the National fences. It was his first time around there but he really took to the fences and jumped like a buck. Ultragold, who won the race last year as well, is a different horse around the National course and was a good winner again although I thought for a few strides going to the elbow I might pick him up.

Shanahan’s Turn has won a Galway Plate and suits better ground so it would be interesting if he was to go back for the Topham next year.

Lostintranslation was another Grade 1 second in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. He stepped up to 2½ miles for the first time and took to it really well. He headed Black Op at the last but Black Op is ultra tough and it goes to show how good a horse Samcro is because the winner was no match for Samcro at Cheltenham.

Grand National
I thought Raz de Maree ran a great race in the Grand National.

He jumped really well as he plugged away for tenth place but although the ground was soft, it was nowhere near soft enough for him.

We rode a nice gallop; we couldn’t go too fast because of the ground and it wasn’t crazy. It’s a great race and it’s great to be back in it.

I was talking to David Mullins afterwards and he gave Pleasant Company a great ride in second. He couldn’t go with Tiger Roll at the elbow but he allowed his own horse a chance to come home; the finish line just came too soon for them.

But don’t take anything away from Tiger Roll! What a horse to win three races at Cheltenham and now the Grand National. It was a brilliant ride from Davy Russell as well and a great double for Gordon Elliott after winning the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

Punchestown
Finian’s Oscar and Sizing Granite are possibilities for Punchestown and Supasundae might turn out in the three miler, we’ll just see how he comes out of Aintree.

There will be some fantastic racing with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott throwing everything at it and everyone will be watching closely because it’ll be a great battle in the Trainers’ Championship and there won’t be an awful lot in it.

Gordon is perhaps in a stronger position this year and I’d say he’s held a few back this time. Willie will have big horses to run in the BoyleSports Champion Chase and the Gold Cup and those big races will be crucial as they hold massive prize money. It’ll be no surprise if the title goes right to the wire again.