Performance Review
April 2024
A wet start to April contributed to us having only a small number of runners during the month, but we were glad to get a smart maiden winner on the board, as well as plenty of placed efforts that will hopefully lead to winners later in the season.
I was delighted to see Buttermere Ridge win first time out over seven furlongs at Gowran Park. He looks a lovely, big, tall type and got the job done in good style for Dave Hyland, who bred him, Caren Walsh and David L'Estrange.
This horse has taken his time to come to hand and I was thrilled with this result for his owners, for the patience they’ve shown. Hopefully there’s more improvement to come from him and we’ll probably look for a winners’ race next.
Buttermere Ridge wins first time out at Gowran
It was frustrating to hit the crossbar with Cardinal Zin when beaten a short-head in second at Gowran too, but he’s been doing nothing wrong in defeat. He ran another solid race when third in a €45,000 three-year-old handicap at Naas five days later. We possibly could have approached things differently in terms of tactics, given how the two races panned out, but hopefully it’s only a matter of time before he gets his head in front for Michael O’Donnell, who is a great supporter of the yard.
On the same card at Naas, we also went very close with Stag Night, who was just touched off by a neck in a competitive six-furlong handicap. The key to him is keeping his feet right and keeping the ground on the easy side. We’ll probably give him a little break now at this time of year.
Concluding Call ran a lovely race when fourth in a big-field maiden at the Curragh on her first run of the season. I wasn’t quite sure about whether she had definitely stayed the trip, but Billy felt it was just the case that she had gotten lit up by a bit of bumping around her, and that she didn’t fully settle as a result. We’re looking forward to running her in a mile maiden at Navan next month.
Zarra Ellis also got started back for the season when fourth at Dundalk in a six-furlong maiden. She’s now eligible for handicaps, having been given an opening mark of 74, and has options on Guineas weekend at the Curragh.
Vassula Ryden filled the same position on her comeback at Gowran Park before finishing in mid-division in the Listed Committed Stakes at Navan later in the week. She seems to keep a bit back for herself, which is frustrating, but we’ll try our best to get her back to winning ways. I’d imagine she’ll go for a handicap next.
We’re looking forward to the flat season ratcheting up another gear next month. Our horses have been running well on the whole, touch wood, and everyone is keen to make sure that continues into the summer.