Head Mistress takes honours in Curragh

She had to do it the hard way on the outside. She’s only having her second run and is still learning. She’s an absolute lady at home and only does what she is asked to do. You are always a bit worried after just one run but Colin (Keane) said she’ll improve again for it. She’ll also improve for an extra furlong hence we made an entry for her in the Cheveley Park during the week. The way she’s going and the way she’s improving six furlongs will be no problem to her. John Brady is an old friend and has had horses with us from the start. Brian Gleeson also has a share so I’d say they will pitch in and go for the Cheveley Park. She has her black type now so it’s all a bonus.

Keane doubles up on in-form Strong Johnson

He’s so fast — he just jumps and goes. He could go for the Abbaye.

Arch Enemy swoops late to land the Nursery

She probably left it a bit late in Sligo the last day but finished well there. I thought that was a better class Nursery today. It took her a little while to get it together in maidens and was coming away slow. It’s great to see her doing it now. I’m not sure where we will go next but I think she will stay further. She’s only small but she has plenty of heart.

Earlswood opens up path to Irish Champion Stakes

It’s been a great couple of days, big rides for Shane Kelly but he’s certainly delivered. I’ve been very happy with this horse since the Derby. Glyn (Davies, owner) lives just up the road from us and brought him home for two weeks after the Derby. He definitely improved for the break. I thought he might be one gallop short but is a horse that always keeps himself pretty fit. He’s a pretty active horse and always works good. We had pencilled in a mile and a half at Champions Weekend but he has free entry now (after winning this race) for the Irish Champion Stakes so we’ll have to think about that now. He’s an improving horse with a great will to win. When he went through the gap today you knew there was only going to be one winner. He stayed on really well. He has an entry in the English Champion Stakes later in the year.

Golden Twilight strong in Headquarters

He was in training last year but was very weak. I then trained him as a bumper horse and thought that he didn’t quite stay. We then ran over a mile and a half at Ballinrobe and Ronan (Whelan) came in and said this horse has loads of pace and you could drop him back to a mile and a quarter. He’d a very wide draw and I said to Dylan to go forward as he’s a big, long-striding horse and needs a bit of space. It’s worked out great. I’m delighted to have a winner for Frank Lynch as he had horses with us years ago. He’s had to be patient with this horse and I’m delighted that it has paid off. He’s a big, tall horse and is only starting to strengthen up now. He shows a good attitude, loves the ground and got into a lovely rhythm. Dylan gave him a peach of a ride.

Twilight Payment back in the groove in St Leger Trial

Monzoon gets there in Curragh

Ever Rock scores for Lambe and Ewing

We were very unlucky in the last race with Reverberation. He’s a type of horse that you have to ride for luck and he nearly got there,. I told Sam to ride her cold, she’ll come home well and he gave her a great ride. She won over five (furlongs) in Down Royal but they went very hard that day and it looks like the race fell apart. They went hard today and it looks like it may have fell apart as well, but she was there to pick up the pieces. We’ll keep going with her until she tells me that she has had enough. A small trainer like me from the north could have had a double at the Curragh but I’m happy with one. The horses are running well and long may it continue. The owner (Richie Behan) is a local man and he supports me very well.