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Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Jessica Harrington admits Irish Derby win would be ‘top of the list' of racing achievements
Green Impact winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby would be 'top of the list' according to Jessica Harrington , eclipsing her Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Chase-winning exploits over obstacles. Harrington is perhaps mostly known for the long and distinguished career of star two-mile chaser Moscow Flyer and the subsequent blue riband win of Sizing John, but she has also made her mark on the level and having bagged the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks previously now has her eye on the Curragh's elite contest for three-year-old colts. 'These are very important races and ones that are recognised worldwide – just like winning a Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the National Hunt sphere, but winning an Irish Derby would be fantastic,' said Harrington. 'It would very much be top of the list, so I would love to win the Irish Derby.' READ MORE Green Impact has won three of his four starts since narrowly beaten on debut at the Curragh during Irish Derby weekend 12 months ago, accounting for Delacroix in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final juvenile start. He impressed when winning the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month, a welcome confidence booster after losing a shoe at a vital stage of the 2,000 Guineas on his return. 'I wouldn't say he didn't get the run of the race in the 2,000 Guineas as he travelled into the race great, but when he got down to the dip he went to change his legs and went to go and try to win the race and he then just lost a shoe and got a bit unbalanced and ended up finishing sixth,' said Harrington. 'At the time I was disappointed but coming out of that race afterwards he was sore and so we gave him a bit of time. The intention was to go to the French Derby but we didn't get there, so we gave him the run in Leopardstown and all roads lead to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after that.' Now the son of Wootton Bassett is a best price of 10-1 for his Classic assignment, as he prepares to tackle a mile and a half for the first time in a race that could feature the first three home from the Epsom equivalent. 'I think he'll benefit for the step up in trip, he won over a mile as a two-year-old and usually if they do that they stay,' added Harrington. 'He's by Wootton Bassett and out of a Galileo mare and he's also a very laid-back character and very relaxed and easy to do anything with, so I think he will stay. 'It's a big task and everyone looks and sees only 10 runners, but the majority of those 10 runners are quality horses.'
The Herald Scotland
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Ted Walsh savours special moments, as Any Second Now heads for ‘five-star' retirement
'He was a great horse to have and a privilege to have him,' said Walsh. 'We've had him since he was a four-year-old, he's been here for nine seasons and we've had some great days with him. Derek O'Connor steered Any Second Now to victory at the Cheltenham Festival (Paul Harding/PA) 'He was just a pleasure to be involved with and I get very attached to them. He was here for a long time and I appreciate everything he has done for me. He has always run his heart out and he was good at Fairyhouse on Monday, as he was 12 months ago – he just met a better horse on the day.' A winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019, he also ran in the Grand National at Aintree three years running, finishing second in 2021 and again making the podium when third a year later. 'We went to Liverpool for the Grand National on three occasions, twice to Cheltenham, ran in three Irish Nationals and we got a Cheltenham Festival win out of him,' added Walsh. 'When he won the Moscow Flyer over hurdles, with the size of him and the scope he had, you knew he would make a nice chaser and he did that and he became a very good horse and a very sound horse. We had some terrific days. Any Second Now and Mark Walsh pictured in full flight (Brian Lawless/PA) 'The only time I think he was unlucky was in his first Grand National which Rachael (Blackmore) won on Henry de Bromhead's horse (Minella Times). He got very badly baulked and lost a lot of ground and that's probably the only day when you could think if the ball had bounced right he might have won.' Any Second Now will now join fellow McManus-owned luminaries at the owner's Martinstown Stud in retirement, with Walsh delighted he will head off to what he termed a 'five-star hotel' for horses. 'I just always liked everything about Any Second Now and he had a very good owner in JP, you could do whatever you liked with him,' continued Walsh. 'He would have had a very good home here, but he is going to a five-star hotel at Martinstown. 'I wouldn't mind going down there myself in retirement and JP has a beautiful set up and he's off to The Savoy or The Ritz for horses.' Any Second Now retires a legend at 13 His brave second today was just one of multiple times he has been placed in Nationals! Horses like him are why we love jump racing ♥️ — (@irishracing) April 21, 2025 Walsh also reserved praise for Mark Walsh – McManus' retained jockey in Ireland – who partnered Any Second Now for the majority of his 41-race career. 'One of the reasons he lasted so long is that Mark rode him nearly all the time and rode him so well,' said Walsh. 'He knew when it wasn't happening for him and never abused him. He didn't give him any hard races to be third or fourth when he didn't have to, he always thought of the next day and the bigger picture and the horse thrived for that, it was a big thing.'
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ted Walsh pays tribute to 'great horse' Any Second Now as retirement confirmed
Ted Walsh paid tribute to Any Second Now after watching his veteran finish second in the Irish Grand National once again on Easter Monday. The JP McManus-owned gelding ran another cracker at Fairyhouse, 12 months after finishing runner-up to Intense Raffles, as he chased home Haiti Couleurs in the 3m5f contest under Mark Walsh. The trainer confirmed after the race that it was the last run of the 13-year-old's incredible career. He told ITV: "Great horse. He's nine seasons there with us and since he won his first race at Navan, won a Moscow Flyer over two miles, won several races over two, won a Bobbyjo over three, won a Webster Cup over two and a half, second and third in two English Nationals, second in two Irish Nationals so what more could you get? "Other than winning, you couldn't get a better result. A better horse beat him on the day and a better horse beat him last year and that's all you can do! Click on this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest Cheltenham Festival news and top stories from the Irish Mirror direct to your phone on WhatsApp. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "That's definitely the last time (he runs). I'm delighted he's going out sound. I'd have been happy today once he pulled up and ran a good race. "A win would have been real fairytale stuff, but he definitely won't run again and he'll enjoy himself."
