Going - Soft to Heavy. Overcast
Placepot Pool - 29,076.42 Dividend - 82.20 Winning Units - 247.59. Quadpot Pool - 2,383.47 Dividend - 47.40 Winning Units - 37.15. Days Aggregate - 233,566.00 (8 races). Last Year 308,541.00 (7 races).
Twomey's Pinar Del Rio a good winner of the Curragh opener
Castle the Star of the Marble Hill
It's not often you see someone taking a pull a furlong out,. The first day in Cork Chris got there a bit soon and we are learning how to ride him now. He's improving and bouncing out of his races. The plan in my head after the last day was to go straight to Ascot but he was going to come out over the door so we said we'd bring him up here and see how we got on. The Coventry is a possibility but I wouldn't rule anything in or not. There is the Railway back here which deserves consideration and we'll just see nearer the time. He's very straight forward, has a great constitution, bounces out of his races and is uncomplicated. If I didn't run him this week he would have killed somebody at home!
Murphy and Carroll in Group Two heaven with Gustavus Weston
That was his Derby. He won here before and we always thought he liked the Curragh,. We thought he needed the race last week and that put him dead on for this one. He won well and I'm delighted the way Gary rode him, it was a good result. I'd have been happy with a place, we're not greedy! He got him switched off which helped, he's inclined to be a bit strong but he switched off today and that was the key to him.
Bolger reaches holy grail of Irish 2,000 Guineas glory with famous one two
Lee doubles up as Epona Plays scores impressive Group 2 win
She just got into a lovely rhythm there,. There were only six runners and we could see there was probably going to be no pace in the race. We wanted to try and take the pace out of the Group 1 filly and not to leave anything for her. That's a tough mile today. I was a bit nervous yesterday morning when I saw the lads walking the track but the Curragh is the most drying plain in the country so I never had any worry that it wasn't going to be run. It's fantastic for owner Renzo Forni who has been a fantastic supporter of me since Joanna Morgan retired. I've nothing at the minute target wise and we'll see.
Murtagh and Coen back on the up after Create Belief win
She ran well in Navan but probably didn't stay so we thought about coming back here,. She probably likes the ground too so it was a combination of the soft ground and back to a mile. She could sneak up in the ratings, that was a nice race for her, and she's a big girl so hopefully she could get black-type later on.
213/1 plus Curragh treble for Billy Lee
I was surprised at that. He broke very quick today, sometimes he's inclined to rear when the stalls open, but he was gone today,. I'd say it was fresh ground where he came up. They never landed a blow, he's not that well handicapped — he's exposed at this stage of his career. Nothing has been up where he went and he said he let him drift over to the far rail. He's been in great form, he's had a few little niggly problems since last year. In Naas he hadn't run since September. Mikey Sheehy rode him two weeks ago and said he gave a heave at the furlong marker but he got his second wind and ran on, he was eye-catching enough. With natural progression you'd have to fancy him today but when there are 22 runners in a handicap you are just hoping they run well. He's a character at home. We've been bringing him to the beach at Donabate every Saturday morning and I think that's helped him as well. We'll have a crack at the Scurry and hopefully the handicapper doesn't take that too literally. We could also look at the big six furlong race here on Champions Weekend.
Lyons and Keane end day on right note with Lust
He's a real good fun horse and we'll pick our races with him during the season,. He's not ground dependent but he doesn't mind that ground. He's a very honest horse to go and do that from the front, they were all hard at it behind him. Hopefully he could even strengthen up next year. He's a half-brother to Maker Of Kings and if he progresses like him you never know what could happen.