Jessica Harrington: “It was brilliant to win the Grade 1 Hurdle at Aintree yesterday”

IT WAS brilliant to win the Grade 1 Hurdle at Aintree yesterday with Supasundae.

He has been a star of a horse for us and he just didn’t get home in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham on what was very holding, tacky ground and I’d say he is a better horse over two and a half miles.

Robert said afterwards yesterday, that two and a half is his best trip, but he won two Grade 1’s over two miles last season – he’s just a very good horse.

He was second in the same race last year and Melon went off pretty fast yesterday and that set it up for him, as he loves to come off a strong gallop. He beat a dual Champion Hurdle winner yesterday and it’s arguable, that was a career best performance from him. He’ll go to Punchestown, where he’ll be entered in both Grade 1 Hurdles there.

He won the two-mile race there last year and we’ll see what way the races will shape up, before we decide what race he’ll go for.

Supasundae wins the Betway Aintree Hurdle at @AintreeRaces ahead of favourite Buveur D'Air

What a dramatic race! pic.twitter.com/I9XLbuCFIj

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 4, 2019

I have decided to take out Woodland Opera of the JLT Grade 1 Chase today at Aintree due to the change in ground. This is really frustrating as he is in Aintree and ready to go but having talked to Robert this morning we both felt to would be too soft for him. He will wait now and head to Punchestown.

I am so excited to have my first Grand National runner tomorrow with Magic Of Light. She takes her chance in the National and she was brilliant when she schooled over the national fences on The Curragh last week. She has a nice weight and I’ve been very happy with her since Cheltenham.

She really attacked the fences last week and hopefully she’ll get into a rhythm and run a big race for everyone.

She does stay very well, but it’s impossible to say, if she’ll get the trip of four and a quarter miles. She ran well at Cheltenham – she was doing all her best at the finish the last day and I’m thrilled for Paddy Kennedy, who’ll be having his first ride in the race too.

It’s a huge occasion and it’s brilliant for everyone connected with the horse and for my staff. Hopefully she’ll acquit herself well and get into a good rhythm and if she does that, I think she’ll run a big race.