BONNY KATE GETS OFF THE MARK OVER FENCES

The Noel Meade trained Bonny Kate made all the running to win the opening Auld Stand Ratoath/Kellys Pub Ashbourne Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse today, capitalising from the unfortunate exit and eventual loss of 4/5 favourite Alvisio Ville in the race.

Ridden by Sean Flanagan, Bonny Kate maintained a good gallop throughout and in the end stayed on strongly in the home straight for a six lengths win over Marinero.

Following the win Meade stated “jumping and staying is her game so we let her roll along. Sean (Flanagan) said she lost her rhythm a bit when he gave her an ease but she jumped well when he asked her to go on.

"She's a really good looking mare, and is a full-sister to Mala Beach. We'll probably look at mares races, although they are fairly hot at the moment, and we'll find something around Christmas."

FAIRYHOUSE 28th November

5 runners off to Fairyhouse today: 

Runners as follows:

BONNY KATE 

2nd last time out in naas 3 weeks ago, she jumps well so hoping to have a good run again with seanf Flanagan back in the saddle.

ICE COLD SOUL

Disappointing last time out in Fairyhouse , he seems to be in great order at home & tongue tie on first time, Sean Flanagan takes the spin this time. 

CLAY ALLISON

first trimester for this 4 year old by primary, he's going well at home in his work so hoping for a good run with Ger Fox in the saddle.

WES HARDIN

unlucky last time out with a lot if interference at the last hurdle in punchestown, he will love the heavy ground and Ger Fox gets the leg back up on him & with his 3lb claim he should run well. 

DE NAME ESCAPES 

impressive last time out in down royal, he's stepping up in trip this time and with Mark Walsh back in the saddle, we hope for a good run

21st November 2015 Gowran Park

*** Goodmorning, we are off to Gowran Park today with 3 runners***

Runners as follows:

GUNNERY SERGEANT 

Impressive bumper winner last time out in punchestown, making his debut over hurdles today , he's schooling well at home so hope for a good run from him with Bryan cooper on board.

FAIR RETURN 

he ran well last time out, finishing 4th to no more heroes, Hoping for a good run this time Mark Walsh takes the ride. 

MONKSLAND

Very unlucky to miss the last hurdle in the grade 2 in Navan 2 weeks ago, he's making his debut over fences today , he schools well at home and Sean Flanagan in the saddle were hoping for a clear round and a good run.

Monksland debut over fences a success

Monksland definitely frightened his connections and backers by hitting the first fence in the straight with a circuit to go, but it was a case of all's well that ends well for Sean Flanagan's mount in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase at Gowran.

The big three came to the fore as things got serious from before the straight - it was 12/1 bar Monksland, Roi Des Francs and Noble Endeavor.

However Monksland showed his undoubted class on chase debut to pretty convincingly gain the day by a length and a half and seven and a half lengths from Roi Des Francs and Noble Endeavor.

"We said we'd take our chance over fences and see how it goes and if it didn't work out we could go back to hurdling," said winning trainer Noel Meade.

"His schooling went great and he has spent half his time swimming as well. When he jumped he jumped well.

"We thought with the Grade 1 at Christmas he might struggle but if he took to jumping fences you wouldn't know where he could go.

"You'd have to be happy with his first run over fences. He did run in a point-to-point but that was his first chase.

"He was good other than the second last first time when Sean did well to stay with him.

"That's his first winner for me and I'm delighted for him. I've been very pleased with what he's been doing. He has great hands and horses jump great for him. 

"He comes in to ride a couple of mornings and does a lot of schooling. He's a really nice lad too."

Showem silver shows in fairyhouse for owner NIna Carberry

Showem Silver and 

(Healy Racing Phot

Nina Carberry rode a winner in her own colours when Showem Silver powered clear in the closing stages to land the concluding bumper at Fairyhouse.

The Noel Meade-trained gelding was easy to back before racing, from 5/1 out to 9/1, but attracted some support on course and was returned 7/1.

Carberry produced the Winged Love gelding to lead at the two furlong pole and he pulled clear inside the final furlong for a four-and-a-half length success.

The Willie Mullins-trained newcomer Merry Night(8/11) was a warm order in the two-and-a-half mile contest but was caught for foot early in the straight before staying on into second.

The winner had finished mid-division on his sole previous outing in a Punchestown bumper in April.

He is out of a half-sister to Aran Concerto, and Nina bought him (for 15,000) at the Derby Sale last year. I think he is now for sale,said Meade.

He's  a nice horse who stays well, jumps well and loves soft ground. Its a long way for a four-year-old, and he should come on a bit.

Busy day ahead for Tu Va Stables

Sunday runners:

4 in punchestown 

2 in cork 

1 in Cheltenham 

Wes Hardin: 

he was unlucky to be brought down on the flat in down royal last time out, he will relish the ground today so hoping for a good run with Ger Fox in the saddle.

Harvey Logan:

 first run since last December for this fella, he won two nice races last year and seems to be going well at home , Alan Crowe takes the ride on him today. 

Killer Miller: 

After winning his beginners chase last week at Naas impressively, Today he goes for the Grade 2 novice chase with Mark Walsh back on board.

Cherokee Bill:

 first appearance on the track for this lad, he's a big horse and he does all his work at home well, hoping for a good run with him with in form jockey Nina Carberry in the saddle. 

CORK 

Bel Ami De Sivola:

First run for him since coming to Tu Va, schooling well at home so hopefully he runs well.

Officeux:

Second run of the season for him, ran a bit keen last time out, he seems to be settled away at home now so hoping for a good run from him. 

CHELTENHAM

Waxies Dargle:

Winner last time out in May at Killarney, he done it impressively winning by 2 3/4 lengths.hes going for the Geatwood hurdles today and it's his  First run back since May and it's a competitive race, but he jumps well and hoping for a good run. 

Grade 2 success for road to riches

Road To Riches stormed clear in the closing stages to make an impressive return to action in the Clonmel Oil Chase this afternoon.

Bryan Cooper made the running on the Gold Cup third in the Grade Two contest and he was asked for an effort two from home in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

Noel Meade's charge really got motoring going to the last and he produced a fine leap at the final fence to seal matters.

The Gamut gelding, carrying the first colours of a trio of Gigginstown runners, stayed on strongly on the run-in to record a six-length success over Bright New Dawn.

The winner had been available at even-money this morning but was strongly supported and ended up going to post a 8/13 shot.

I don't usually sweat about runners but I couldn't sleep last night,badmitted Meade.

I was thinking would he fancy the track or the ground and going two and a half miles around here. You'd have to be happy though and he jumped great.

œBryan said he was full of running going down to the last and there is no question that he stays three miles.

We know what to do with him now but don't know where we go next. Michael (O'Leary) mentioned the Durkan Chase but I think three miles would suit better. I'd rather run in either the Lexus or King George.

Everything in the outfit (Gigginstown) is done on a discussion basis and there'll be any amount of discussion but the Chairman usually rules anyway!â€

Cooper said:- he did it well. It was tough work out there. Conditions were hard as there is a good strong headwind.

To be fair having to make the running on your first run isn't ideal. A lot of things went against him, the track, the ground, the trip, but he had to come here and he did it well. Hopefully he's open to more improvement.

The extra week or two we got (coming here) instead of Down Royal probably left us better for today than it would have for Down Royal so that helped out.

I was impressed with his jumping. When I needed him he was very good and he couldn't have done it any better.

I committed him down to the last. In these good races you don't want to be sitting up. Types likes him are used to going forward. He got me out of trouble.

He's  a nice horse to look forward to. He can go two-and-a-half but ideally probably three miles is better suited.

We have plenty for the staying division so we'll have to see where we are going with them.

Clonmel with roads to riches

1 runner today all the way to Clonmel with Roads to riches:

The reappearance of this fella after giving us and his owners a marvellous season last year , today he's gone to Clonmel for the grade 2 Clonmel oil chase, we hope that he continues in the form he had last year as he seems to be in great order at home.  

Saturday double for tu va

Fantastic result at Naas for Tu Va Stables at the weekend 

 

Race (4) & (5) Winner's Killer Miller & Disko 

Race 4: 2nd Bonny Kate

Race 1: 3rd Powder Hound 

Race 7: 5th Une Lavandiere

Road to Riches wins Lexus !

Road to Riches pictured here winning at down royal. 

Noel said afterwards: "I'm thrilled. Things didn't go quite to plan as we thought we'd be able to make it. He was getting hassled up front early on but it worked out well in the end.

"We knew he was in great shape and he's been improving all the time since Punchestown.

"The way he came home I'd imagine it's all systems go for Cheltenham. You'd say he'd get the trip. He really stuck on well there.

"Bryan said they went very quick and if he had been up there he would have been going too quick. He stayed on really well and I'd say going further wouldn't bother him.

"I'll have to talk to Michael and Eddie. I don't know if he'll run again but obviously we're hoping to go to Cheltenham.

"We did the same with him that we did after Punchestown and left him off. It was never the plan to run at Gowran and he was a bit of work short. We learned a lesson there.

"Bryan rode him work in Navan last week and was delighted with him.

"I thought that was a good race today and thought it was every bit as good as the King George."

Road to Lexus !

Noel commented after the victory of Road to Riches in the JN Wine Chase at Down Royal today “that's terrific, everything went a dream.

“They left him alone in front and he had a couple of great jumps up the back which stretched them.

"This was always the plan; he was a bit undercooked going to Gowran and is still slightly heavy today - five or six kilos 'over' from Galway.

“He's a good horse and I'll probably leave him now until Christmas where we'll go to the Lexus if it's not too heavy.

“I'd love to go for the Gold Cup, but there's more things to be done and he's not going to have his next run in the Gold Cup.

"We changed his training regime and diet completely from Punchestown on and it has made a big difference."

Very wood reappearance !

Tu va takes plate with riches!

(Road to Riches )

Noel stated: "This was Eddie's (O'Leary) plan. I thought he'd have top-weight if he came here and I was delighted to see Kid Cassidy (top-weight, unfortunately a fatality Meade stated: "This was Eddie's (O'Leary) plan. I thought he'd have top-weight if he came here and I was delighted to see Kid Cassidy (top-weight, unfortunately a fatality in the race) in.

"Willie (Mullins) was behind me when they started up the hill and he clapped me on the back. At that stage I wondered did he have a lead-cloth on him at all he was winning so easy.

"He was out of all the trouble the whole way and with Shane it's obviously a case of an old head on young shoulders.

"Michael (O'Leary) is not here but I'm sure he's watching in. They've had the third too in Willie's Balnaslow. Jonathan Burke, another young man going places, was on him.

"Being by Gamut, and Gamut is by Spectrum, most of them want good ground. Probably that's the key to him and he does want to come into a race fresh. He jumped brilliant.

"He went a fair gallop but he was always comfortable. He jumped so well he gave himself a chance, and every fence was a help to him.

"I think that was Shane's first ride for me. Ger (Fox) would have been riding him put for breaking his collarbone (at Wexford last Friday) but that's racing. We bought him off Martin Cullinane who only trains about six miles from here.

"That's the only one of the big races (at Galway) that I hadn't won. I've been second in it I think three or four times. I'm absolutely thrilled as the Plate is something you want to win.

"I'm sure the handicapper is not going to be too nice to him after that, he won so easy. I'm sure he's a Graded horse, there is no doubt about that. His handicapping days might be over after that. Good ground is essential." the race) in.

"Willie (Mullins) was behind me when they started up the hill and he clapped me on the back. At that stage I wondered did he have a lead-cloth on him at all he was winning so easy.

"He was out of all the trouble the whole way and with Shane it's obviously a case of an old head on young shoulders.

"Michael (O'Leary) is not here but I'm sure he's watching in. They've had the third too in Willie's Balnaslow. Jonathan Burke, another young man going places, was on him.

"Being by Gamut, and Gamut is by Spectrum, most of them want good ground. Probably that's the key to him and he does want to come into a race fresh. He jumped brilliant.

"He went a fair gallop but he was always comfortable. He jumped so well he gave himself a chance, and every fence was a help to him.

"I think that was Shane's first ride for me. Ger (Fox) would have been riding him put for breaking his collarbone (at Wexford last Friday) but that's racing. We bought him off Martin Cullinane who only trains about six miles from here.

"That's the only one of the big races (at Galway) that I hadn't won. I've been second in it I think three or four times. I'm absolutely thrilled as the Plate is something you want to win.

"I'm sure the handicapper is not going to be too nice to him after that, he won so easy. I'm sure he's a Graded horse, there is no doubt about that. His handicapping days might be over after that. Good ground is essential."

Very very good at Cheltenham!

Winning connections of Very Wood.

Carberry said: "It's brilliant, great for Noel, and I'm delighted to get a winner.

"He travelled and jumped super. He's going to be a lovely chaser. I had to gather him up after the third-last, but he stormed up the hill."

Meade added: "It was just fabulous. He had a bruise last night and we thought he wasn't going to run, the team did a brilliant job to get him here.

"You could fancy him if you'd seen his run behind the favourite (Briar Hill, at Naas). He was staying on very well (over two and a half miles). It's the trip that makes the difference to him and he's a chaser for next year. He's a pretty laid-back customer. Eddie (O'Leary) bought him in a field, I think.

"We ended up coming here with only two runners. We thought we had a great team, but they kept getting knocked out and then we got a bug about a month to six weeks ago and we closed up for three weeks and had no runners at all. That's hard to take. Hopefully were the other side of all that now!"

Looking forward to our runners today

"We haven't had runners since Hennessy day at Leopardstown. The horses picked up some bug. It passed from one to another very quickly and they ran temperatures for a few days. We had to be patient and hopefully they're over it."

 "We've done the tests on the horses running over the weekend and they seem fine. We run Corskeagh Royale and The Herds Garden at Navan, while Zigger Zagger and Busty Brown run at Leopardstown on Sunday.

"We'll see how they get on and then wait to see how things go in the week before finalising Cheltenham plans."

Texas Jack wins the Kinloch Brae!

Texas Jack clearing the last like a fresh horse!

Meade said, “He jumps like a buck for Paul and it’s great to have him back on this horse. I think that is probably around his trip and I’m not sure if he gets any further.

“He's probably a horse to stay at home rather than Cheltenham. I was annoyed that I didn’t put him in the John Durkan, and he just wasn’t right around Christmas time. We freshened him up and came here.”

Carberry said, “I’m finally getting the hang of him! I’ve been there too soon on him a couple of times. He always travelled well and jumped super, it’s just that he does pull up in front."

Mullaghanoe gets deserved win!

Meade says “he's very lazy and when he gets there he thinks he has done enough. He did a piece of work the other day which was way better than anything he had done before and if he hadn't made that mistake at the second last, he'd probably have won well.

“I could see him being in an Irish National some day and there's no doubt he could win one of those good staying chases.”

Looking forward to St Stephens day!

We are looking forward to this Christmas, we have some nice horses entered over the week. Here are a few that are declared for Thursday:

LEOPARDSTOWN

12.50: Chancol

He's a lovely horse who won his bumper nicely in Navan the last day, he has been schooling well at home and soft ground should be an advantage to him. We think he has a good chance. 

2.20: Perfect Smile 

He has come out of his fairyhouse run (3rd) very well. If the ground doesn't ride to deep he won't be far away again, but any more rain would be concern. 

 

2.20: Protaras

We were very disappointed with him the last day. Paul Towend rode him that day and said he slipped in to one of his fences and lost his confidence and never traveled in the race after that. So hopefully he'll jump better on Thursday but the rain is a big concern for him. Hoping for a good run.

2.55 Road to Riches

He has been in good form since fairyhouse (3rd Drinmore). We have dropped him down in trip from the last day to see will it help him, we think the course and ground will suit him. He will be up against it with Champagne Fever running, but if your not in you can't win!

3.30 The Herds Garden 

Is a lovely horse who will love the ground soft. We felt we were beaten by a very good horse the last day at fairyhouse (Shaneshill). He has been working very well since and we're looking forward to him running. We think he should put up a good show. 

   

We have a few declared in Down Royal as well which are in good form and think they'll run well. 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS !

Great treble for Tu Va!

Festive Felon was Tu Va Racings 1st winner.  

Meade said, “When you think of the bumper he ran in with The Tullow Tank, it was one of the best bumpers run. I was a bit disappointed with him that day but he does want soft ground.

“He stays really well and he jumps great. All those Gold Well’s stay very well and you could see him going three miles.”

Ned Buntline put in a good jumping performance to win his beginners chase.  

Meade said, “That was better as he relaxed and jumped very well. He just got a bit tired after the last. The trouble is he’s been doing a lot of schooling and we haven’t been doing as much work with him. He’s schooling a lot better, and he was a bit fresh the last day.

“I’m not sure where he’ll go next but there is a race for him at Naas in January. I’m not worried about soft ground for him but would be a bit worried about quick going as he hits the ground fairly hard. JP was keen to go straight over fences with him even though he’s only five.”

Wounded Warrior won the bumper well.

Meade said, “He’s a lovely horse, a great looking horse and a fabulous walker. He’s a full-brother to a horse we lost called Sword Of Destiny. He had a hell of an engine but didn’t have the athleticism that this horse has.

“He’s still a big baby and I don’t know whether he’ll go jumping or not now. We’ll talk about it over Christmas. He stays really well and loves that ground.”

Very wood non runner

Very Wood is a non runner today. He is off his feed.