Laytown© Photo Healy Racing
English trainer George Baker runs Dana's Present in the opener at Laytown today, the Tote Mobile Betting Handicap at 4.20 and he spoke to Sean Boyce on At The Races just before lunchtime.
Baker explained: "It's a fantastic day out here – the sun is shining – it is a bit of an adventure but we've had a fantastic year taking horses abroad.
"We've had Ancient Greece at St Moritz and If I Had Him being champion horse in Jersey (won five out there and first English winner in Ostend for many a year too), runners in Ostend and runners in Madrid so now we're adding another one to the list coming to Laytown.
"It's the first trip here and we've been shown fantastic hospitality. We're being incredibly well looked after. I'm over here with Patrick Murphy my assistant trainer and Talula my nine-year-old daughter and chief work rider!
"Dana's Present had a little splash around in the sea this morning but we just don't know (how he'll perform).
"We're staying with the Delaney's just outside Julianstown, which is the next door village and we took the horse out this morning – Patrick rode him in the surf and he seemed to enjoy it.
"Normally he's quick away and Seamie Heffernan has ridden plenty of winners here – he's a good man for the job.
"If we had our choice we'd prefer the race to be over seven but he's got plenty of tactical speed.
"You obviously need a lot of luck at the start and indeed all the way through and to be able to jump the occasional puddle!
"Of course it's a bit of fun. We've just made a real genuine attempt to give our owners something a bit different; without being rude about it with some of the lesser-lights.
"The owners have a lot more fun doing that than fiddling around some of the tracks at home – without being rude about them either." (EM)
