Smiling Eliza 4th at Aintree, Cornakill Rose 6th at Navan
All roads did lead to Aintree as Smiling Eliza fulfilled the dreams of Gordon Elliott Racing Club members who can now say they were involved with a horse that ran at the home of the Grand National. It was Becher Chase Day and some of those who ran in that will be back for the big one in April but this was our big one and although we didn't get the result we were hoping for, the club members who were lucky enough to attend won't forget their day.
The rain finally arrived in the week leading up to the race and going was soon changing from Good to Good to Soft to Soft. There was no real let up and by the time of the race it was Soft, Heavy in Places. Everybody was asking how would she go on the softer ground given she'd run well all summer on Good or Good to Firm. She got off to the perfect start with Jack Kennedy onboard. He had her right up the front with Chica Buena who she'd beaten twice during the summer. I have to admit I never noticed us beating her in those races but I'll never forget her now. The ITV team had a variety of pronunciations of Eliza including E-leetha and E-leeza but Mick Fitzgerald knew her name and eventually the commentator had it too. Eliza and Chica Buena continued to vie for the lead and as they went over the fourth last the commentator commended her on her "quick and economical" jumping. She did jump superbly throughout. When they went over the third last it looked like a two horse race. As they went round the final bend with the camera behind them I was looking to see how much the ground was cutting up and it was a bit. There were clear hoof marks in the ground and a bit of muck flying but I was telling myself it wasn't too bad. As they hit the straight and the tv switch to the grandstand camera, my heart was pounding as Jack pushed the button for her to go. Chica Buena had a slight lead on the far side, Jack took Eliza down the middle, Brian Hughes had the leader over the second last just in front as Eliza hit the top of the hurdle but Chica Buena flew it and just went. She was five, six, seven, ten lengths clear in no time. She flew the last as well and all that was left was to see if Eliza could hold onto second. The rest of the field were catching up with her but she was still a couple of lengths ahead. The line looked so far away when she went over the last and as the tv followed the deserved winner to the line to complete four wins in a row, all I could do was hope that Eliza could hold on. The commentary started with "The race for the place goes to....." as three horses appear from the left of the screen "Liffeydale Dreamer, in third Lady Camelot and in fourth Smiling Eliza".
So Eliza missed out on the much coveted black type. I didn't realise that you don't just have to win the race to get the black type, a place would have done. We know now that soft ground isn't for her but it wasn't like she hated it from start to finish, she was in the race all the way and just narrowly missed out on a place. I discounted her previous run in my pre race verdict as it was a charity ride but maybe Gordon wanted her in that with 12 stone on her back as preparation for running on what was always likely to be softer ground at Aintree. Eliza was fine after the race. She's had a lot of races this year so not sure if she'll get a rest and maybe come back in the spring. It would be great to have a rematch with Chica Buena at Cheltenham.
Back at home, Cornakill Rose had her first run over hurdles and she did really well in a massive field to finish 6th. Claimer Conor Brassill had the ride and he did well to keep her out of trouble as there were 21 horses in the race and they were very closely bunched at times. Promising start and hopefully she can continue to improve in her next run which could be as soon as this week at Tramore.
The rain finally arrived in the week leading up to the race and going was soon changing from Good to Good to Soft to Soft. There was no real let up and by the time of the race it was Soft, Heavy in Places. Everybody was asking how would she go on the softer ground given she'd run well all summer on Good or Good to Firm. She got off to the perfect start with Jack Kennedy onboard. He had her right up the front with Chica Buena who she'd beaten twice during the summer. I have to admit I never noticed us beating her in those races but I'll never forget her now. The ITV team had a variety of pronunciations of Eliza including E-leetha and E-leeza but Mick Fitzgerald knew her name and eventually the commentator had it too. Eliza and Chica Buena continued to vie for the lead and as they went over the fourth last the commentator commended her on her "quick and economical" jumping. She did jump superbly throughout. When they went over the third last it looked like a two horse race. As they went round the final bend with the camera behind them I was looking to see how much the ground was cutting up and it was a bit. There were clear hoof marks in the ground and a bit of muck flying but I was telling myself it wasn't too bad. As they hit the straight and the tv switch to the grandstand camera, my heart was pounding as Jack pushed the button for her to go. Chica Buena had a slight lead on the far side, Jack took Eliza down the middle, Brian Hughes had the leader over the second last just in front as Eliza hit the top of the hurdle but Chica Buena flew it and just went. She was five, six, seven, ten lengths clear in no time. She flew the last as well and all that was left was to see if Eliza could hold onto second. The rest of the field were catching up with her but she was still a couple of lengths ahead. The line looked so far away when she went over the last and as the tv followed the deserved winner to the line to complete four wins in a row, all I could do was hope that Eliza could hold on. The commentary started with "The race for the place goes to....." as three horses appear from the left of the screen "Liffeydale Dreamer, in third Lady Camelot and in fourth Smiling Eliza".
So Eliza missed out on the much coveted black type. I didn't realise that you don't just have to win the race to get the black type, a place would have done. We know now that soft ground isn't for her but it wasn't like she hated it from start to finish, she was in the race all the way and just narrowly missed out on a place. I discounted her previous run in my pre race verdict as it was a charity ride but maybe Gordon wanted her in that with 12 stone on her back as preparation for running on what was always likely to be softer ground at Aintree. Eliza was fine after the race. She's had a lot of races this year so not sure if she'll get a rest and maybe come back in the spring. It would be great to have a rematch with Chica Buena at Cheltenham.
Back at home, Cornakill Rose had her first run over hurdles and she did really well in a massive field to finish 6th. Claimer Conor Brassill had the ride and he did well to keep her out of trouble as there were 21 horses in the race and they were very closely bunched at times. Promising start and hopefully she can continue to improve in her next run which could be as soon as this week at Tramore.
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