28th Jan 2021
Mouse Morris’ SAMS PROFILE won the G2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park, despite missing the whole of the last campaign through injury. Sent off at 8/1, jockey Philip Enright kept him held up at the back of the 10-runner field on his 3m debut and worked him gradually forward. When Mary Francis made a positive attempt at a breakaway, Enright became more animated and as the mare weakened between the last two hurdles, SAMS PROFILE battled out a very tiring finish with Diol Ker (who he’d beaten 2l in a Pt2Pt in their early careers). He won by ½l the pair clear by 11.
The winner – who had run twice over fences earlier this season including a solid third behind the hugely exciting Monkfish – was cut to 25/1 (from 100/1) and 16/1 NRNB from 66/1.
Morris said: “He hasn’t been easy and fractured ribs at Thurles from the horrible fall he got and he ran with it afterwards. He bled when he got home after his Fairyhouse run and it was the vets who found it. He bruised his lungs and we gave him box rest. He is as tough as old boots and it was just one of those things in Thurles, but it got too late in the year (to continue novice chasing). He had a couple of good runs but isn’t the luckiest horse in the world. The Stayers’ Hurdle will be pencilled in now.
26th Jan 2021
ROKSANA has been ‘at her best’ this season according to Dan Skelton who admits it will be hard not to have another crack at Thyme Hill and Paisley Park in the three-mile Grade 1 come Festival time. Skelton said: “We were delighted with her, she just seems to be at her best this year. She’s strong enough to get three miles really well and she’s just improved through time, she’s just a pleasure to have about the place. She’s won two Grade 2s this year, and I know Cheltenham will be on everyone’s lips, but at the end of the day she’s already had a great season and I hope that can continue into the spring. If she can go up to the next level and beat the competition at those tracks, it remains to be seen. But if we have any fears, we won’t go running. Other horses will definitely have harder prep races than she has. At the end of the day, the Mares’ hurdle is stacked high with Irish quality, and then the Stayers’ Hurdle has got two that we’ve had a go at and have been beaten by already. They’re both pretty daunting tasks, but she hasn’t had the hardest time in the world so far and that will stand her in good stead. We’ll always be optimistic and have her there in her best condition. She’s looked brilliant this year and she’ll run her race, we know that. Everyone can see she’s best at three miles now, and unless the mares’ race cuts up significantly I think we’d have another crack at the Stayers’. I just feel that trip probably brings the best out of her. At the start of the year we half-presumed it might be her last year, but I’d be very keen to reassess the situation. I’d say if she’s in this form she’d be wanting to come back herself, let alone what I think.” After her latest win, the bookies shortened the nine-year-old to 14s (10s NRNB) while she remained 8s for the Mares’ Hurdle (6s NRNB).
15th Jan 2021
SIRE DU BERLAIS still on course for The Stayers Hurdle and is still 11s with Bet365 which seems decent.