Jessica Harrington: “With Robbie on Jury Duty, we have booked Leighton Aspell to ride Sandymount Duke”

I AM really looking forward to Aintree next week and everyone in the yard is excited to have a runner in the National.

Robert (Power) has opted to ride Jury Duty, so we have booked Leighton Aspell to ride Sandymount Duke, who’ll be our first runner in the National.

I was thrilled with his final prep run Thurles last weekend and that should leave him right for Liverpool. I just hope that he gets a bit of nice ground and he looks super and it’ll be a huge thrill for his owner Ronnie Wood, to have a runner in the National.

Supasundae will go for either, the two and a half or three-mile hurdle – we’ll see what the ground is like next week. Woodland Opera loves a bit of nice ground and he’s a real spring horse and I am looking forward to running him in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1 chase.

They all worked at The Curragh this morning and I was delighted with them.

 

Navan – Saturday

 

4.00

Pocotaligo (Tom Madden)

I like this horse and he had just the one run last year. He was a very big two-year-old and he has wintered very well and I think he’ll run a big race. He is a good moving horse and I don’t think he’ll mind the good ground. He’s a horse that I’ve always loved – he has matured and has filled out a lot over the winter.

 

5.10

Minnie Haha (Tom Madden)

She rarely runs a bad race and she should handle the nice ground. She is well drawn and I think she is capable of running well here. She has gotten good and strong and in time, she might get a bit further than a mile, but she’s in great form at home and we are looking forward to getting her back started. She only had the three starts last year, but she looks great and I’ve been very happy with her.

 

Limerick – Sunday

 

1.50

Up’n’over (Conor Orr)

He was a bit disappointing the first day, but he is better than that and his work at home has been good and I think we’ll see a better horse on this occasion. He is a good moving horse, so the good ground should be fine for him.

Fiveallin (Paddy Kennedy)

He ran very well on his debut, when he finished fourth in a maiden hurdle at Wexford and he has come on for that. He is much sharper as a result and the winner of that race, is now rated 119. He jumps well and he will improve with racing and we’ll see how he gets on going right handed. The good ground should be fine for him.

 

2.20

The Holy One (Barry Geraghty)

He won his maiden hurdle well at Thurles and that will have done his confidence the power of good. He will appreciate the good ground and his main target this season, is the final of the Red Mills Series at Punchestown. This looks a competitive race and he has to give upwards of 3lbs to his ten rivals, but he is in great form and I think he’ll run very well.

 

2.55

Emily Moon (Paddy Kennedy)

She was disappointing at Cheltenham and she is better judged on her wide margin victory, of her  maiden hurdle at Naas in February. She likes to bowl along and Paddy knows her well and we have freshened her up since Cheltenham and she seems to be in good form. I am keen to put that run behind her and although she has won on soft ground, I don’t think she’ll mind the likely good ground.

 

4.05

Moonshine Bay (Paddy Kennedy)

He has done well for us this season and I think three miles around Limerick will suit him. He jumps and stays and he has bumped into some smart horses over the winter and I’ve been very happy with him at home. He’s the second highest rated runner in the race and if he ran to his mark, he’s got to have a chance and I think he’s capable of getting into the shake-up.