Going - Standard. Dry
Jackpot Pool - 3,409.73 Dividend - 292.90 Winning Units - 13.59. Placepot Pool - 23,739.20 Dividend - 76.80 Winning Units - 216.26. Days Aggregate - 179,348.32 (8 races). Last Year 150,910.40 (7 races).
Phil's Dream causes 50/1 upset in Dundalk's opener
he has been frustrating. He has always worked well and hasn't delivered and we have tried everything. Derek (Kierans, owner) has been very patient with him. He was dropping down to five (furlongs) and, looking at that, he would definitely stay six. We thought he would run very well at six two runs back but didn't, and we couldn't find a reason. Maybe the whole thing will make a man of him, and he might go forward. Somebody must have had a little whisper in his ear telling him he was in the last-chance saloon!. it is great to get him up and Donagh did very well there because he got checked just when he needed to get out and got him up on the line. He'll keep going over five and six here. He (handicapper) can't be too harsh as it was a nose and sometimes with these sprinters when the penny drops, it really drops.
Sky Legend leads home trainer's 1-2 in Dundalk claimer
I wish there was more of these races and that was lovely tonight with the (top) grading being at 65, which gives us all somewhere to go with them. It was a big drop in class for Sky Legend. He's had a good few tries and deserved to get his head in front. He's been knocking on the door for the boys (Sky Legend Syndicate) who have him a year now. We thought he would do that a lot of nights and he hasn't. there should be more of these races over jumps as well. I just don't know why there can't be more of them - everyone benefits from them. I'm sure there will be claims for him as he'll make a hurdler for someone in the summer.
Dubai target for impressive Elegant Man
Elegant Man will probably improve because he is having a little blow. Mikey (Sheehy) said he was still green when he hit the front. The form of the Listed race (at Kempton) is very strong and that was as good as a Group 2 race you would say. He loves this surface and will be kept on this type of surface for the time being, but I could see him going on the grass over the summer. We worked him on the grass, he is a beautiful mover and he doesn't look like he would have any bother stepping up in trip. Kia (Joorabchian, owner) is anxious that he goes to Dubai and that will probably be our next target. We haven't pinpointed a race but we will talk and see what they want to do.
Melbourne Cup hero sires first Irish winner
Well-supported Ferrybank scores for Team Walsh
he looked well and everything, and it is the first time the owner (his wife Helen) came along!. he hadn't run for a couple of months although young (Ben) Coen said he ran well enough here the last day. He likes to be wide and was drawn wide. He was game, pulled it out and might win another one. He gallops out well. He won over a stiff seven in Leopardstown one day and if you win a stiff seven at Leopardstown, you get a mile around here. He had dropped down a fair bit (in the ratings) compared to what he was.
Bergamasco defies top weight for Davison
that's him, he needs to be ridden cold (in rear) and Ronan is very good at settling horses. He's a big, strong horse and I was happy to put one of the best around on him knowing he would carry the extra weight. When they steadied into the bend, I thought we might be in trouble but, thankfully, they picked it up a notch or two coming into the straight and it just opened up nicely for him. He'll keep going up here, he enjoys the surface and has very good form. I think he wants good ground (on turf). You wouldn't know what the future holds for a horse like this, he has been great and continues to improve. He's a nice, progressive type and he has definitely trained on.
Hogan doubles-up with a second 1-2 at Dundalk
Miqdaad only cost me a thousand guineas in the October horses in training sale. I just thought he hadn't run that badly in his one run (at Yarmouth) and while he had had a fracture when with Godolphin, we took a punt on him. He's a cheap horse, but he'll cover some of the better ones. Mike O'Brien (owner) jumped at him straight away and I'm delighted for too as he is a year without a winner. He's a good owner and he always supports me for three or four horses. He keeps buying new ones, so he deserves a winner.
Dreamer provides Amo with Dundalk double
Manhattan Dreamer is a nice filly and Mikey said that that (seven furlongs) is her trip and loves the surface. She is one that came over from America, didn't seem to be doing a whole lot there but has been progressing since she came back. She has a lovely pedigree, has potential and has a bit of size and scope so should fill out. She will come back here again and then probably run on the turf. We will take it step by step.