Denis Coakley's latest news...

• Jerome rides first winner

  26 January 2020

  Our stable amateur and character Jerome Power went home to Dungarvan this weekend to ride his first Point-to-Point winner.  Well done Jerome and congratulations to all.

• Two go close over twelve furlongs

  24 January 2020

  Recent runners include Tiar Na Nog, back after a short break to contend an event at Wolverhampton last Sunday, and Rockstar Max for his fifth outing last Monday. It was so foggy at Wolverhampton that afternoon that Tiar Na Nog's race was almost called off in very poor visibility, but she ran very well nonetheless. She was unfortunately crossed entering the final half mile, so Charlie Bishop had to take a very wide course around the bend to move onto the quarters of the leaders. This sudden extra effort then told down the straight and a couple of rivals passed her to leave her in fifth, beaten just under six lengths at surprisingly long odds. Rockstar Max stepped up in trip once again to make his handicap debut at Kempton last Monday. Having veered out of the stalls he quickly made his way to the front and then took a lead off two others into the back straight. Unfortunately it was far from a smooth tempo behind the lead horse, but Rockstar Max travelled very easily and kept tabs on the front runners throughout and was still very well in contention as they turned for home. Before the cutaway he was full of running and Shane Kelly looked for an outside run, but he was denied a clear gap to move into as the closing stages unfolded. Max proved his staying power right to the line, however, and gave a lot of cause for encouragement as this was his first experience at the business end of a race. He was only beaten three and a half lengths in fifth this time, and connections are very hopeful in weighing up a range of future options.

• First runners of 2020

  08 January 2020

  Rockstar Max stepped up to ten furlongs for the first time, and from his initial rating of 50 he contested a Classified race at Chelmsford last week. He wasn't able to get good race position, however, and seemed not to reproduce the quality of his work at home when the race unfolded. Ultimately he finished in eighth, beaten about eight lengths. Now he is set to go a little further from his revised mark and will hopefully fare better next time. Givepeaceachance had been really pleasing in her schooling over hurdles, and despite the heavy ground she took up her entry at Lingfield in a two mile maiden race. Although she did not favour the testing ground she went very well indeed, and her jumping was exceptionally good and efficient. Up with the market principals from the yards of Venetia Williams and Lucy Wadham turning in, she only gave way to them in the closing stages to be third and beaten about a dozen lengths, with a wider gap still back to the fourth horse. This was a most promising hurdling debut under difficult conditions for Chris van Hoorn's consistent mare.

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