Going - Good To Yielding. Fine
Jackpot Pool - 390.30 Not Won. Carried forward to Curragh on Saturday 29th July. Placepot Pool - 18,281.55 Dividend - 78.00 Winning Units - 164.06. Days Aggregate - 116,566.00 Last Year 130,036.00
Royale winner at Down Royal
she has been done a couple of times but I thought the way the race would set up today it might suit her. She has been doing the donkey work the last couple of times and just getting caught. Niall (McCullagh) says she dropped in and relaxed well. She quickened up well and there were two smart fillies there (runner-up Treasuring and third placed India Rain). She is improving all the time and I think she will be able to step up to six furlongs as well. We might go for a little black type along the line.
Mr Michael gains maiden win at 18th attempt
he has always showed us that ability, he has just been a bit slow to come to hand. The last three runs have been positive with him. He's down to that kind of a mark that he should be winning those kind of races. He ran in Gowran and he got no run - he got stopped a few times. Shane (Foley) gave him a beautiful ride there, he dropped him in and there was plenty of pace in the race. He came there and he won well. He stays six and he's quick enough for five so we'll go for something similar - a fast pace and he can come home well.
Lady lifts gloom for Coopers
she (Lisard Lady) was in all sorts of trouble (in the race) and had to get out but I always thought she was very sharp and I was proved right. Wayne (Lordan) said she took off when she got daylight. She's been away to Tipperary and Killarney after racing and she knows her job; I knew I wasn't coming up from Co Kerry with a no hoper! She's for sale.
McDonogh drives Guanabara Bay home
A very, very competitive race. I just felt today he has dropped back in grade. He's a little bit of a rascal jumping out but he has plenty of ability. We needed Declan (McDonogh) on him to get him up. He got him home so it was great to get it. We have him entered at Galway next week and he will go - it's seven in Galway, he'll go seven or a mile. He'll go there with a decent chance. Hopefully we'll have Declan again, he doesn't like getting off winning rides!
Shanahan's Spartan wins Her Majesty's Plate
Set To Fire times it just right under Davis
Sean (Davis) just about got there! She met a bit of trouble in running but I think that sort of suits her coming from behind. She settled well.
Boom Or Bush wins Down Royal finale
he has always promised it and that's why Pat (Smullen, regular rider) stuck with him - he was very keen to ride him and got down to 1lb over (weight at 8st9lbs). When you have him on your side it's a big help. Boom Or Bush did it well and I think there is more in him, he's on the right side of the handicap. He's in Galway on Friday - that's the plan to go there with him and lower ground would even suit him a bit better. He promised plenty as a two-year-old and was a little bit disappointing this year. We put blinkers on him and cheekpieces, we tried everything with him. We just decided we would leave him alone and ride him differently.