Going - Good. Overcast
Placepot Pool - 27,446.72 Dividend - 264.70 Winning Units - 72.56. Quadpot Pool - 2,549.36 Dividend - 80.40 Winning Units - 34.88.
Lyons & Keane off to a flyer with Panama Red
That's brilliant. I had intended to come back today. I've been saying it all my career that you don't need trainers at the racing, the staff do the job and they've proved it. We're here today because it's the biggest day on the Irish calendar. It's very important to us and we've targeted the meeting. We're lucky enough to have horses to target the meeting and we're blessed to get a winner on the first start, which is fantastic. We'll have plenty of runners, not as many tomorrow but plenty today. It's a good start and hopefully there is more to come. In fairness today was her Derby, no disrespect to her but she's a work in progress. We know she's a miler for next year and we'll probably put her away now and let her grow up. We'll probably start her back in one of the trials but I'll have a word and see what Colin thinks. Colin gave her a great ride. That's just him, we're just riding the wave with him and we're lucky to have him.
Atomic Jones completes quick double for Lyons & Keane
He's done for the year I'd say, he's a real horse for next year over a mile plus. He's a big huge baby and I didn't even expect to be running him this year, never mind winning two. I'd say he's a smart horse, plenty of ability. He's done that without even knowing he's done it, just pure raw ability. I think he's typical of the sire, good, strong and dependable. We'd always start them at a mile (next year) but I'd say more than a mile will be his trip.
No Speak Alexander wins dramatic Matron Stakes
It was her day in the sun today, everything was right, and she really came on from the last day. She got no run in France at all, she got knocked over a furlong down. We trained her for this day and we rode her the same way as we did in the Guineas, up at the sharp end. She's probably got a little bit stronger. She likes a bit of nice ground. We've no idea where we're going now, this was the plan and we'll enjoy the day.
Real Appeal completes 389/1 double for Harrington & Foley
I don't think my heart will stand much more, it's still pounding. To have two winners on Champions Day is absolutely amazing. We came here today saying we could have one of those nearly weekends, with everything running really well and not getting a winner. Now to have two winners is absolutely amazing. For No Speak Alexander to win a Group 1 is great. Shane came in and said Real Appeal is 10lb better here than any other racecourse. He's won three races here now and he does nothing but improve. It's the first time he's won over a mile and it's really worked out. He's a funny horse, when he gets to the front he pulls himself up.
St Mark's Basilica lands thrilling Irish Champion Stakes
Carroll completes Lyons' treble on Camorra
What a day and that's special because Gary is such a huge part of the team. To give him a Champions Weekend winner is fantastic. He's as nice a person as you could meet in a day's walk and probably the best judge in Ireland so he's a huge asset to me. He has enough intelligence and enough experience to read what the race is doing and then has the confidence to do what he did. It was the winning of the race so fair play to him. You don't like beating yourself but isn't it a high class problem. I was happy with two for the weekend and anything after that was a bonus. As long as they all run their races, that's our rules. I didn't want to be going home scratching my head. It's the first day I'm back racing, and (owners) Sean (Jones) and David (Spratt). Leopardstown do a fantastic job anyway but Champions Weekend is special. It was a great innovation by Irish racing and it's getting stronger and stronger.
Ever Present a third winner for Harrington & Foley
It's fantastic and I'm thrilled for that horse because having won two amateur races here I thought they put him in at a fairly high mark of 95. Then I go to the Curragh and get beaten and they put him up another 5lb. I think he could be a proper Ebor horse next year, that's the plan. He just likes nice ground. He absolutely loves it around here and Leopardstown does just suit some horses.
Lyons 4 Harrington 3 O'Brien 1 the scores on the doors