Forum Horse Connections

[edgt]

All set for a weekend to remember at Leopardstown.
Straight Home , leased when rated 97 heads for the Paddy and Maureen Mullins Mares Hurdle.
When the option came up I thought " Great ! One rated so low will only be allowed one bad race before being sent home !"
Her Tramore debut for us had Paul using all his force, guile and bloody mindedness to barely finish third.
Listowel saw her pipped a short head, just a week after we lost Johnny Mooney , one of the syndicate members in a freak accident.
Clonmel she came good, got a 9 lb hike and duly went into hiding with this race in mind.
Rated 112 she should be better over further, is jumping 2-3 grades in class without the experience of running against better company, yet is second favourite and may be Paul's only ride in a handicap all weekend.
His course record with me is 100%, many years ago as an apprentice he won a flat handicap on Espartano, trained then by Tom Hogan. Tom's Cast A Spell is the one to beat here and at 20/1 is just too big a price.
Come on us, whatever happens we should enjoy the moment.

 

[edgt]

Well, it didn't happen.
Going a half stride too quick for her comfort zone and could not catch the first six so out of the prize money.
These big races are difficult to win no doubt.
Jumping two or three grades never a good idea ; you are better off imo sacrificing a slightly higher mark finding out if you are good enough to be running in the first place ; the few pounds extra on board will be more than compensated for by the experience gained.
She will be better over further and did us all proud trying as hard as she did.
Onwards and downwards,( for now at least !)