Our star columnist reflects on some of his recent winners including Arkle contender Ile Atlantique who scored at Naas.
Recent winners
We were delighted with the performance of Ile Atlantique going back to two miles at Naas last weekend. I was hoping his jumping would allow him to compete over a shorter trip, but was pleasantly surprised at how sharp he was around a track which I would consider to be a sharp for two milers.
You really have to jump and gallop and that’s exactly what he did. That puts him in the Arkle picture now and it’s nice to have another arrow to fire at that target along with Majborough.
Patrick’s faith in Fun Fun Fun wasn’t misplaced and she ran and jumped with the sort of potential he thought she had, beating Karia Des Blaises who I expected to go close after her previous run in Cork.
She seemed to miss the first and second fence which took her out of contention but she’s one to keep an eye on for the future while Iris Emery probably ran a career best in third on ground we didn’t think would suit her. That opens up more opportunities for her being able to put in a run like that. I was very happy with all three.
Champ Kiely was very good at Fairyhouse, jumping with serious intention and didn’t lose ground anywhere. Every time a horse got near him he put in another jump and gained another length.
He looks a serious contender for the Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.
