Performance Review

April 2021

We were delighted to get a winner on the board just up the road at Naas during the month with Coill Na Sionainne, who won well under Nathan Crosse on her second start since joining us.

She had a lovely first run of the season at Leopardstown when third and it was great to see her build on that for new owners to the yard, Nicholas Varney and Eleanor Kennedy. The handicapper gave her 15lb for winning by six lengths and we'll look towards another handicap at Gowran next month.

Coill Na Sionainne, who won well at Naas on her second start

I thought Insinuendo ran a cracker when just touched off by half a length against a couple of much more experienced horses a week earlier at Tipperary - she came home very strongly on just her second start. We've always liked her and she's just been quite raw, so we gave her time. I'd imagine her next start could come in the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on May 8.

We were happy that Texas Moon shaped nicely on his debut at Gowran over a mile. He's another who we allowed time to mature - we bought him for just €4,000 as a yearling - and we're hopeful that he'll come forward from that run. He could head back to Gowran for a seven-furlong maiden next month.

Bipartisanship, a nice filly by Bated Breath, also showed up well on her first start in a Leopardstown fillies' maiden when third. Hopefully she'll progress for the experience and we'll keep an eye on the ground with a view to her next run.

A smart Bungle Inthejungle filly called Loveday finished third on her debut at Dundalk during the month and I thought she ran well while still showing greenness. We think a lot of her - she's very fast - and I'm looking forward to running her in the Listed First Flier Stakes at the Curragh next month.

Up Helly Aa ran better than on his comeback at Naas when third in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh. The nicer ground and application of a visor for the first time seemed to be a help. I'd imagine the plan is to head back to the Curragh for the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes next month, although I think he could be fine dropping back to a mile or nine furlongs on nice ground this year too.

All three of our runners in the Listed Sean Barrett Bloodstock Stakes at Cork ran creditably enough. The race possibly didn’t pan out to suit Lustown Baba but she still kept on for fourth and we were delighted with Star In The Making, who dead-heated for fifth on her first start since joining us. Our other runner in the race was Downforce, who won it in 2017 and 2018, and he didn’t disgrace himself on quicker than ideal ground.

Claonadh had a nice first run back in a competitive three-year-old sprint handicap on the same card when fifth and filled the same position in the Listed Committed Stakes at Navan. Hopefully she should have a good season ahead and we'll have a look at the Listed Polonia Stakes at Cork next month.

There was also a decent first run of the season from Just Reminiscing in a five-furlong maiden at Tipperary during the month. She finished third and hopefully we'll be able to get her head in front. I probably did the wrong thing with Fictitious Lady by not keeping the visor on her at Limerick when she was third in a mile maiden. She minds herself a bit but fingers crossed she'll build on that run.

With May around the corner, we're all set to get stuck into the very busy summer period - everyone here is looking forward to the months ahead.