There’s More To Come From Intricately

I scored a one-two in the Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday and it goes without saying that I was very pleased.

Glory At Fairyhouse
Both horses jumped well but Landofhopeandglory won nicely. We knew he was a good horse over the flat so it was nice to see him make the transition.

Making that transition to the obstacles varies between horses. For some it all comes very natural to them and they take to it very quickly, for others it requires a bit more work – each horse requires its own individual workload.

Landofhopeandglory took to it well and looking forward in the short term at least there’s a winners race at Punchestown and a Grade Three back at Fairyhouse so I’d imagine he’d go to one of them if not both. We won’t look at any plans further ahead until that is out of the way.

There’s a few more to come in the coming weeks but it’s nice to have this fella started off so well.

Big Ben ran a lovely race in second too.

Ivanovich Gorbatov was beaten at Naas at the weekend but had travelled and jumped well. He had got into the race lovely before the 2nd last jump. He got us a third but it’s early days in a long season so we’ll wait and see how he comes out of it and then we’ll decide where to go next with him.

Breeders’ Cup
Intricately couldn’t oblige in the Breeders’ Cup last Friday and I felt the track was a bit too sharp and things happened too quickly for her. We were a little concerned about that before the race but it was still great to be over there with a chance and get the experience.

She’s still an exciting filly to look forward to next year and the Guineas route is a possibility. And Please God we’ll have another horse that we can try again with one day!

It was a great day on Saturday when Highland Reel won the Turf. Seamie Heffernen gave him a great ride and I’m over the moon for him because he’s been at Ballydoyle a good while and nobody works harder than him.

Found was back in third and that’s possibly the last we’ll see of her.

She must be close to if not the highest earning mare of all time after the Breeders’ Cup.

I know my Dad has said she’s the most genuine mare he’s worked with and I guess it’s hard to find anything like her. The win at the Arc this year will always be a memory we can cherish.