Jessica Harrington Stable news

[mayo]

It was very sad to lose Jenari after breaking his leg on Tuesday when doing a bit of a breeze ahead of an intended engagement in Leopardstown today.


By Jessica Harrington

He had just turned six and had a very bright future. He had done everything we wanted, winning his bumper before following up with two wins over hurdles, including a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse.

He had already made his mark over fences and there was much more to come. It’s horrible but these things happen and you just have to get on with it.

All being well, it will be a busy weekend at Leopardstown, with the Arkle the obvious highlight. It is unfortunate that only three have turned up but it will still be very interesting, as Oscars Well (1.45) resumes rivalries with Arvika Ligeonniere and Benefficient.

Robert was very happy with how he schooled during the week and I have a sneaky feeling that if everything goes right and he jumps well, he could reverse St Stephen’s Day form with Willie’s horse.

He made a very bad mistake at the first on that occasion and took a bit of time to recover. Yet he still only finished two and a half lengths behind. Arvika is going to have to lead from the off again, unless Benefficient takes him on, but we’re going to be on his tail this time.

We are double-handed in the Boylesports.com Hurdle (3.20). Burn And Turn would prefer better ground but she has very solid each-way claims. She ran a cracker , when just touched off by Zuzka in a Grade 3 at this track after Christmas.

She clearly likes the track and I think she will cope with the hustle and bustle. If there’s a good gallop, she will be staying on at the end.

Citizenship (3.20) would like better ground too but on his best form, he’d have a chance. He went hunting during the week in a bid to help him regain his enthusiasm and hopefully that works, as it has done for Bostons Angel.

One Fine Day (1.10) has a tongue tie on to help cope with the ground as I felt she got a bit caught in the sticky surface at Cork. She was squeezed at a vital juncture of that race but stayed on well to be fourth and the winner, Dalasiri, boosted that form midweek. If she copes with the going she should go close.

Passagere (1.10) is a nice filly who has had one run in France. She will have no problem with the ground.

I’m hoping for a big run from Smithfield (12.25) tomorrow. Urano is the one to beat but ours ran very well last time and has improved for that. It suits him better to go left-handed so that’s also a positive.

I was so disappointed that the Solerina Hurdle didn’t go ahead last week as I really thought Annie Oakley (12.55) could finish third, but it’s a stronger contest now. She will love the ground but the problem is that it is probably two furlongs too short and she just might get caught for speed.

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

JESSICA HARRINGTON: Angel in flying form

Saturday, February 02, 2013

By Jessica Harrington

It is hard to believe that Bostons Angel (2.50) hasn’t won a race since capturing the RSA Chase at Cheltenham almost two years ago. He could do with a victory now for his confidence – you never see a sad horse in a parade ring!

Tomorrow represents a very good opportunity to get back on the glory trail in the Glenfarclas PP Hogan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. A lot of the old reliables are there, but he has taken to the cross-country scene very well, finishing second to Arabella Boy at this track before running a cracker when runner-up to Outlaw Pete at Cheltenham.

He retains all of his ability and is enthusiastic about his racing again. He is in good form after his day’s hunting last Saturday and I think he can win. Indeed, so happy am I with Bostons Angel that I entered him for the Aintree Grand National during the week. He jumps and stays really well so it is a very realistic target.

At least he should be able to handle the ground tomorrow. I didn’t even bother entering anything for Thurles or Fairyhouse because I didn’t expect them to go ahead and so Bostons is my only runner of the entire week, apart from my three on the all-weather last night.

It’s so difficult for the racetracks now and when you see Thurles falling by the wayside, you know things are bad. We live in hope though and three good dry days with a stiff wind would go a long way to sorting out the ground.

We had a bit of an up-and-down time of it last weekend. They raced on the outside track at Leopardstown, which meant we were on the same turf as was used at Christmas and it was really bottomless.

Oscars Well jumped brilliantly all the way until the final fence in the Arkle, responding well to Robert’s positivity. In fact it might have been his jumping that led to Arvika Ligeonniere hitting the deck. He did make that bad mistake at the last though and it knocked the stuffing out of him.

Had he not made that error, I wouldn’t rule out the fact that he could have won because he battled really well at Christmas. But in the ground, he got very, very tired, having done well not to fall. I haven’t decided yet if he will go to Cheltenham or we’ll wait for Fairyhouse.

The two four-year-olds, One Fine Day and Passagere, got very tired and faded quickly but Smithfield ran as I thought he would in finishing third. We knew there were a couple of highly thought of horses in the race so it was a very pleasing effort. He settled and jumped much better than before and we’ll have a lot of fun with him.

Burn And Turn just couldn’t jump out of the ground in the big handicap hurdle but she didn’t have a very hard race. Fairyhouse is the ultimate destination for her. She could run in a mares’ hurdle, a mares’ chase or a handicap hurdle. I don’t care really, I just want some good ground for her!

Citizenship ran his best race for ages. He showed all his old enthusiasm, travelling well. He actually led at the last but made a mistake.

I’m not saying he’d have won had he jumped it well but he’d have been a lot closer. He will go for either the County Hurdle or Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

Why But Why and Chino Valdes couldn’t stand the ground but Why But Why jumped brilliantly again. He will be very competitive during the summer on better ground as he really is a spectacular jumper.

Annie Oakley is the one horse I have that likes soft ground. Unfortunately there was no gallop in the mares’ hurdle and she needed someone to join her when Robert had to take it on.

She got caught for a bit of toe then but stayed on really well. I would say that was her best run yet. She’ll return to Fairyhouse and the more rain the better for her! Home

[mayo]

Racing has continued to be severely affected by the weather and tomorrow’s meeting at Naas is touch and go, but we’re getting plenty excitement today with four Grade 1s at Leopardstown. I don’t have a runner in any of them but am looking forward to them nonetheless.

he Deloitte Novice Hurdle is one I will be keeping a particularly close eye on given that so many of the protagonists have links with Jezki.

Speaking of which, I can report that he had his first breeze yesterday morning after a little break and everything went well. We were very happy to get that out of the way and now we’ll build him up steadily, with a view to being fresh for Cheltenham in five weeks and taking in Punchestown afterwards.

Bright New Dawn, Champagne Fever, Minsk, Waaheb and Wingtips have all finished behind Jezki so it will be really interesting to see how the Deloitte pans out. Champagne Fever can be expected to go off in front and I wouldn’t think Minsk will try to take him on this time.

Minsk and Waaheb will probably stalk Willie’s horse, hoping that their flat speed will count. Waaheb’s jumping would need to improve on the last day but if it does, he might be the one to follow.

The Hennessy might be a small field but there are plenty of talking points. Flemenstar or Sir Des Champs? Will Flemenstar stay? By all accounts they are going to let him run from the front and they’re right too. He has won all his races that way and I would say he burned up too much energy being held up in the Lexus. We’ll have a better idea about everything after this.

The same applies to the Spring Juvenile Hurdle, with all the top four-year-olds competing. Willie runs Blood Cotil and Diakali, Our Conor has won his two races very well for Dessie and John Ferguson sends over Ruacana.

I like Sabrina Harty’s Dalasiri though. He would like better ground but ran a really brave race when just touched off by Dogora the week before. If there were eight runners, he would be a great each-way bet and still represents value.

My bet of the day is Texas Jack in the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase. Boston Bob will probably go off favourite and Lord Windermere is an improver who ran well behind Texas Jack at Leopardstown a couple of weeks ago, but I really liked the way Noel’s horse did it that day.

I think there might be more to come from him and waiting tactics will be employed once again. I think he will swoop to catch the rest of them.

I have just one runner with Smithfield (3.50) in the handicap hurdle. It’s no harm sending him here as if it doesn’t work out, he can always go back to maiden company.

I just think that because he’s off a feather weight and there’s plenty of improvement in him, he might just be a little bit ahead of the handicapper.

He improved quite a lot the last day, settling really well when third to Legal Exit and Urano. He clearly appreciated going left-handed so that was taken into account too when deciding it was worth taking a chance.

Bostons Angel was my only runner last week. He was running a big race in the cross-country chase until making a mistake when he slipped at the double bank. That gave him a bit of a fright.

It was very soft too but he came out of it well and will definitely go to Cheltenham. We’ll wait and see how he comes out of that then before deciding on the Aintree National.

Bob Le Beau ran a very good race when fourth in Dubai on Thursday night. He led for much of the way under Gary Carroll and was collared close home, beaten just half-a-length. He runs again next Thursday and after two runs, will be fully acclimatised now.

[Old Vic]

[Moscow]

Thursday, February 19, 2015 - Jessica Harrington believes Faugheen is the one to beat as her stable star Jezki builds up for the defence of his Stan James Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham on the first day of The Festival, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 10.

Jezki is yet to win in three starts this winter and has seen the tail end of Hurricane Fly on each occasion. The seven-year-old was fancied to reverse the form in the Irish Champion Hurdle (January 25) after running Hurricane Fly to a half-length over Christmas, but made a shuddering mistake at the last and faded into third.

Harrington, speaking today at a media visit organised by Cheltenham Racecourse, said: "It was a fantastic day when Jezki won the Champion Hurdle. He kicked on from the top of the hill and basically stayed there.

"Everything is going smoothly and if we can get him there in the same form, he will run another big race.

"You can argue that he has had a better season this time around than he did going into last year's Champion Hurdle because he has finished closer to Hurricane Fly on two occasions.

"He has not had any hard races and seems to like Cheltenham in the spring of the year.

"Cheltenham is a great place and some horses light up and really enjoy the atmosphere. Jezki is one of those and he loves all the attention.

"I think it is hard to say if the Champion Hurdle is a better race this year. I thought it was tough last year but the races at the Cheltenham Festival are always tough.

"I think Faugheen is the one to beat. All right, you have The New One as well but Faugheen has easily beaten everything put in front of him and is the unknown quantity.

"Faugheen is the young horse coming up - just as we were last year - and I always fear the younger horses more than the older ones. You could argue that he has not beaten anything but he can only beat what is put in front of him.

"There is also Hurricane Fly and I know Willie (Mullins, trainer) still loves him to death. Hurricane Fly is a hard horse to beat in his own country. Maybe we should have beaten him and that means we are not as good as we think we are, but I think Jezki is good.

"A P McCoy is J P McManus' first jockey and I assume he will ride Jezki, unless he chooses Kitten Rock. It will be A P's last Champion Hurdle and it would be great if the pair could win it.

"He is a fantastic rider and has pushed the boundaries in riding and endurance. It would be a fairytale if he could win some of the championships races at Cheltenham next month."

Jezki's half-brother Jetson is all set for the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle over three miles on the third day of The Festival, St Patrick's Thursday, March 12.

The 10-year-old brought to an end Quevega's nine-race unbeaten streak when denying the great mare by a length and a quarter in Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown in May.

Jetson has proved that was no flash in the pan with two solid efforts in Grade One company this season. He was second to Lieutenant Colonel in the two and a half mile Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse and the pair filled the same positions in the three-mile Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Harrington added: "Jetson was a revelation last year. In his first run outside handicap company, he beat the great Quevega in the stayers hurdle at Punchestown. I think a lot of the jockeys were looking at each other and forgot he was out in front of them.

"I thought that was a bit of a fluke but he has been second in two Grade One races this year - the Hatton's Grace and the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

"Davy (Russell, jockey) thought he was going to win going to the last at Faryhouse and I thought he was bit unlucky at Christmas because Lieutenant Colonel - who is a much bigger horse - leant into him the whole way up the straight. I think he was intimidated but he still ran his heart out.

"We have not run him since because he would have a 7lb penalty and he is not a big horse. He will go to Cheltenham and then on to Punchestown again. We might look at Aintree as well because he loves it around there.

"I think the Ladbrokes World Hurdle is very open this year and Jetson loves Cheltenham - he has run well in the Pertemps a couple of times.

"I think the Irish staying form is every bit as good as the form in Britain. We have only seen Beat That once, At Fishers Cross does not look the horse he was, More Of That may not run and Annie Power is probably going for the mares' hurdle.

"At the age of 10, he has made the transition into graded company, which is quite funny."

Please see below for the trainer's comments on her other entries at The Festival which takes place from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, march 13.

Burn And Turn: "She was second to Road To Riches in the Galway Plate last year, which is obviously quite good form.

"She is going for the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate providing the ground is reasonably good. She has not run since November but that is not a concern because she always runs very well fresh.

"She is a good jumper and won over two miles and five furlongs at Punchestown last year, so I'm hoping it is the right race for her."

Kabjoy: "She's a four-year-old filly who won on the Flat and won first time out for over hurdles at Gowran.

"She has had two runs since in graded races and I have entered her in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. I don't know what mark she has yet and we will look at that before deciding if she definitely runs.

"She has had a good break since her last run and will like a bit of nice ground. I think she will have a good chance."

Macnicholson: "He runs in an amateur riders race at Dundalk tomorrow and Kate (Harrington) will ride him. That is his warm up for Cheltenham and we will probably be looking at the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

"Paddy Kennedy will ride if he goes for that. He has ridden Jetson around Cheltenham in the Pertemps, so he has experience."

Modem: "He is entered in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle but I am not sure if he will get in. He is set to run in a novice hurdle at Naas on Sunday and it will depend on how he performs there.

"He was moderate on the Flat but loves jumping. It was a good run in the BoyleSports Hurdle and he was just beaten by a better handicapped horse on the day. The winner had form behind the likes of Annie Power and I think that is good form."

Rock On The Moor: "She won nicely yesterday but we are making no decision about whether or not she will go for the OLBG Mares' Hurdle until next week.

"I spoke to the owner this morning and we agreed to make no decision for a week. We just want to let the dust settle and see how the race is shaping up."

Sadler'sflaure: "He is in a couple of handicaps and there is an outside chance he will travel. He runs at Leopardstown on Saturday week and it depends on what happens there.

"He had a good run in Punchestown but then had a disastrous run in the Thyestes and made a bad mistake the last day. I am only really getting to grips with him now.

"He was a good horse in France and had not run for over a year until this season, so it is a learning curve for me.

"They keep telling me he stays but he likes to be up there and I think two mile, five furlongs is his trip."

Ttebbob: "He is in a couple of handicaps. He is running today (won) and we will see how he gets on.

"He was supposed to go for the Pertemps but was sick when he ran in the qualifier at Christmas so he is not qualified."