I’m Gutted We Didn’t Win But Delighted For Mouse & Ger

We enjoyed a successful few days at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival. The highlight for me was the win of Sutton Place in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle on Monday.

BoyleSports Irish Grand National
Bless The Wings ran a cracker in the Grand National. Ruby rode him very confidently, I couldn’t fault him, we were just unlucky. We’ll either send him next to the Scottish Grand National or the Le Touche at Punchestown, we still need to discuss it.

I was disappointed to go so close but I was also delighted for Mouse Morris and Ger Fox. Mouse once again showed his ability to prime a horse for the big occasion.

Of my other runners, Killer Crow travelled well but our fears that he might not get home proved correct, while the ground was a bit too quick for Mala Beach.

The Real Deal
Sutton Place looks like a hell of a horse for next year, he’s smashing. I’ll have to speak to the owners but I’d love to go chasing with him.

We’re getting a nice bunch of young horses together so it’s really exciting times ahead.

Miracle Of Medinah is a lovely horse and we would have been delighted if he finished third or fourth yesterday. He’s a big weak baby that still has lots of strengthening up to do. With a summer’s grass under his belt he should make up into a high class novice hurdler.

Death Duty’s defeat was disappointing but he’s a horse for the future – when Blow By Blow went past, he came at it him again. He’ll be a lovely horse over a trip on soft ground next year. Desoto County just found two miles around Fairyhouse on the sharp side. I’ll be speaking to the owners to see where we’ll take him next.

Gavin Cromwell
Aside from our team, nothing gave me more satisfaction than to see Jer’s Girl win the Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle on Sunday. Some people might not know that Gavin Cromwell is also a farrier, he’s in our yard every morning and his win was as good as having a winner ourselves. He’s done exceptionally well with a small team and who knows, I might need a new farrier the way his training career is spiralling upwards!