Going - Yielding, Yielding To Soft In Places (changed to Good to Yielding, Yielding in places after race 6). Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 137.42 Not Won. Carried forward to Down Royal on Saturday 22nd June. Placepot Pool - 15,363.05 Dividend - 845.40 Winning Units - 12.72. Days Aggregate - 68,972.00 Last Year 86,853.00
Much to digest after Havingagoodtime wins Down Royal opener
Convara delights Slattery in north
He (Darragh O'Keefe) started off pony racing with my young lad. We bought a pony off him for Andrew and that's how we met him. He's a good, young lad. I thought he would need the run today, I hadn't him away anywhere. I thought that for this time of year it was a better than average maiden hurdle - there was a few with chances. We had a good bit of work done with him but I just thought he might need it. He has improved from last year. He's a grand horse and he surprised me there now. I think I'm after having five or six seconds in the last three weeks and one has come out the right side of the line. I was a bit afraid as I thought the ground might be a bit slow for him, he's a real fast-ground horse. I had him in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle but I ran him in this in case he didn't get the trip and had a hard race.
Goose Man wins as the outsider of the field
Party Playboy enjoys himself in Down Royal
We couldn't find a race for him and we went up to two (mile) seven (furlongs) and then we took a severe, stupid move back to two miles. We found the two and a half that was right for him. He is getting experience now and we are looking forward to him going chasing. That's where you will see the proper horse. He might jump another hurdle, he is brilliant to jump. Paddy (Kehoe) owned Grabel many years ago that won so many races. It's lovely to have him back, he has had horses with me since I started training. It's exciting to have a horse that can win. He disappointed in Galway last year but I would say there was other reasons. I'd say he might act on the track and we'll go back to Galway anyway - might go to Killarney before then Galway.
Ozzie's Way pleases Hogan with success after "frustrating" evening
I would have settled for a dead heat to be honest! It's a long run down from the third last,. To be honest he was a different horse today. It's a pity Tim (Conroy) couldn't be here. He bred him and he is a great racegoer. It is a pity he couldn't travel today. We had a frustrating enough evening as a few didn't run up to scratch so it is good to get a winner. We'll possibly look for a beginners' chase for him, one of those rated beginners'. He jumps well and is from a very good family.
Snegurochka has Dowdall Blake back at the number one
Newcomer Donacheady Gale takes winners bumper at 25/1
I remember his dam (Aboo Who) winning the good hunters chase in Thurles. His dam was champion mare for a year - she was a very, very good mare,. He's a Kalanisi horse and I bought him in the Sales for small enough money. He had a drop in the Sales and just didn't look himself. I bought him off a friend of mine Will Delaney for small money. He's a gorgeous, big horse and he could be anything. He's a lovely horse. He was showing us that at home. Finny (Maguire) was mad about him and said 'John, you have a real, class horse.' He said he would be disappointed if he doesn't pick up a winners' bumper. We'll probably go for a winners' bumper next. He won well and we are delighted with him.