The Final Week

The Easter holidays are all over for another year but the racing action continues as we head towards the end of the season this weekend. The jumps action today comes from Kelso and Hereford with the flat action at Epsom, Yarmouth and Thirsk. In Ireland, what was due to be the opening day of Fairyhouse’s Grand National meeting, will take place today after being rearranged on Saturday from waterlogged ground.  

Yesterday it was the Irish Grand National, which was the main feature of yesterday and it will certainly become a season to remember for Sean Bowen as he came out on top on Haiti Couleur for Rebecca Curtis. The horse became the first British horse since 2014 to win the race and it was a fantastic front running performance and to back up his win at Cheltenham. Any Second Now ran another good race as he finished second for the second year straight. Ted Walsh has now confirmed the 13 year-old will be retired safe and sound. 

Dan Skelton fought back on Easter Monday with an across the card four-timer and has latched up around a £50,000 gap to Willie. There will be no change to the trainers’ title race today as neither Skelton nor Mullins have runners at Kelso or Hereford, they recommence their battle tomorrow at Perth, where both stables are represented with runners. 

There may be a trainers title up for grabs but it was Paul Nicholls who took the first and second in the feature at Plumpton, the Sussex Champion Chase with Sans Bruit. It was a nice performance to back up his win at Aintree and it was a great ride under Jay Tidball, which would have been the jockeys biggest win of his career. 

Yesterday Royal Defender ran at Cothelstone in the Restricted and finished third under Tommy Eyston. It was a step in the right direction and good to see him complete after his fall last time out so that would've done his confidence the world of good. 

Why is Peter Pan always flying?

Because he Neverlands!

Have a great Tuesday!