Grand National Steeplechase Day – August 29th

Sportsbet Gotta Take Care Hurdle

(Handicap Hurdle - 3600m)

Post Race Details & Comments

Winning Horse: Light Pillar (Ire)

7yoG Galileo (Ire) - Burning Sunset (GB)(Caerleon (USA))

22 starts - 5 wins 5 seconds 1 third 5 fourths $169463

Other Wins

1st Pakenham Farewell Y Blackwood Mdn Hrdl 3200m (2021)

1st Dundalk Aw Scenic Carlingford Ferry Race 2414m (2018)

1st Lyon-Parilly Prix Steiner Pons 2400m (2017)

1st Argentan Prix Sea Bird 2100m (2017)

Other Placings

2nd Sandown-Hillside Ladbrokes Back Yourself (Bm70) 2400m (2020)

2nd Bendigo Brb Electrical (Bm78) 2400m (2020)

2nd Killarney Joc Metal Fabrication Limited Race 2259m (2018)

2nd Listowel Bryan Macmahon (Q.R.) Race 2971m (2018)

2nd Deauville Prix De Colombiers 3000m (2017)

3rd Lyon-Parilly Prix Des Poulains 2200m (2017)

Race Result:

1st: Light Pillar (Will McCarthy/Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace) - $4.60

2nd: Roland Garros (Steven Pateman/Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace) - $1.75 fav
3rd:
 El Diez (Will Gordon/Eric Musgrove) - $17

Winning Time: 4:17.01  Last 600m: N/A

Margins: 7L x 12L

Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace (rep by Declan Maher)

“It was great. Two nice horses that have little things to get them up and get them right. It’s not always easy with these horses as everyone well knows.

“I thought ‘Roland’ was going to keep going but Willy gave him a great ride there on Light Pillar and sat very patient.

“Ciaron’s got a share in Light Pillar himself and so has Dad. It’s a great group of owners.

“He’s just had his little niggles that we’ve had to keep sorting out but he’s a nice horse.

“Jess, who’s strapping him, he’s had a tendon issue a couple of years ago and she’s done a lot of work with him.”  

Winning Jockey: WIllie McCarthy

Didn’t panic: “I ride out Roland Garros everyday myself and I knew he would go at a gallop in front.

“My horse had a breathing issue we knew from Sandown so I was always going to ride him to get him home and it worked out perfectly for him.

“They went a good gallop up front and they came back to me. He jumped into the race and I didn’t really have to move a muscle until we straightened up and he found for me.

“Over the last couple he quickened up for me and he was tough to the line.

“He’s a nice horse for next year.

“I know Dec and his parents have a little share in him and they’ll be watching on proudly and next time they’re having a meal they’ll have to make a another place at the table for me.”

Stumbled at last jump: “I was always in a forward momentum over the last couple. I knew they were going to come up and I had the momentum going forward.

“He had better flat form than Roland Garros. I mean this horse ran at Royal Ascot one time when he was with Joseph O’Brien so he has got a bit of boot.”