Clonard Abbey and Scealai Aonair at Galway
Clonard Abbey and Scealai Aonair were back out on the flat after lay offs of over a month and over 3 months respectively. With the ground starting to get soft again, Scealai Aonair, our only mud lark it seems, should see a lot more action now although the Sporting Life think the handicapper might have her already but she's likely to switch to hurdles anyway.
There were 4 or 5 of the Wesht of Ireland club brethren there hoping to see good runs. I was watching in a bookies in Belfast while waiting on a pizza. Clonard Abbey was up first in a race over around about a mile. There was drama in the build up to the race as the number 8 horse got spooked on the way up to the start and ran about a mile before the jockey could get control but when he did and he headed back to the start something else happened and the jockey seemed to jump off and that was his race over before it started. This delayed the start and I couldn't wait any longer to watch live as my dinner was calling.
Clonard Abbey got away well in only her 3rd start so that was improvement already. Club favourite, Declan McDonagh had the ride and he had her very handy right away. The 5f marker was crossed quickly and as they came down the hill, round the corner to the home straight he had her in the lead. Unfortunately, she didn't kick on and was soon going backwards. Not sure if the ground was a bit soft for her or the company was too hot but she ended up finishing sixth. It will be interesting to hear what the thoughts are on her from the yard tomorrow.
Scealai Aonair also got away well in her 1m4f race. Sean Davis had her in about third early on and kept her there most of the way round. Again, it all looked very promising before they hit for home when she was found wanting and finished 8th. Not sure if the ground wasn't soft enough yet as her best runs have come on heavy ground or if the distance was a bit longer than she likes as her best runs have been over 1m1 or 2f. It may be she just needed that run after being out all summer but she definitely hasn't been the same horse since she won and then was sent to be covered.
Edit: Alex reported this morning that both fillies were fine after their runs. The ground was pretty dead and Storm Ali was just kicking off yesterday evening and there was a very strong head wind that Clonard Abbey struggled with in particular. Scealai needs the ground looser too.
There were 4 or 5 of the Wesht of Ireland club brethren there hoping to see good runs. I was watching in a bookies in Belfast while waiting on a pizza. Clonard Abbey was up first in a race over around about a mile. There was drama in the build up to the race as the number 8 horse got spooked on the way up to the start and ran about a mile before the jockey could get control but when he did and he headed back to the start something else happened and the jockey seemed to jump off and that was his race over before it started. This delayed the start and I couldn't wait any longer to watch live as my dinner was calling.
Clonard Abbey got away well in only her 3rd start so that was improvement already. Club favourite, Declan McDonagh had the ride and he had her very handy right away. The 5f marker was crossed quickly and as they came down the hill, round the corner to the home straight he had her in the lead. Unfortunately, she didn't kick on and was soon going backwards. Not sure if the ground was a bit soft for her or the company was too hot but she ended up finishing sixth. It will be interesting to hear what the thoughts are on her from the yard tomorrow.
Scealai Aonair also got away well in her 1m4f race. Sean Davis had her in about third early on and kept her there most of the way round. Again, it all looked very promising before they hit for home when she was found wanting and finished 8th. Not sure if the ground wasn't soft enough yet as her best runs have come on heavy ground or if the distance was a bit longer than she likes as her best runs have been over 1m1 or 2f. It may be she just needed that run after being out all summer but she definitely hasn't been the same horse since she won and then was sent to be covered.
Edit: Alex reported this morning that both fillies were fine after their runs. The ground was pretty dead and Storm Ali was just kicking off yesterday evening and there was a very strong head wind that Clonard Abbey struggled with in particular. Scealai needs the ground looser too.
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