Going - Good: changed to Good to Yielding after Race 3; changed to Yielding after Race 6. Showery
Jackpot Pool - 2,808.00 Dividend - 1,722.10 Winning Units - 1.64. Placepot Pool - 33,859.27 Dividend - 27.90 Winning Units - 1211.63. Days Aggregate - 614,906.60 Last Year 424,525.48
Gate opens for O'Brien's Heavens at second attempt
Zaynab records another last gasp Curragh win under McDonogh
She’s a nice filly and is progressing well. Obviously we bought her because she is a half-sister to Zanahiyr. She’s coming along steady, is tough and put her head down when needed today. We stepped her up in class to see where we were really. We bought her as a yearling to be a juvenile hurdler, but we might have to redirect her now!. We’ll probably have a look at the Sandringham now in Royal Ascot, a mile fillies only. She probably needs a little bit of kindness in the ground, but Noel and Valerie would love a day out in Royal Ascot.
Ocean proves Jewel for McCreery with Group 2 Curragh success
They went no gallop and she was a bit fresh early on but Billy got her settled and she finished out well. I’m delighted with that. We’ll go on to Royal Ascot now for the Duke Of Cambridge. She’s won a Group 3 and a Group 2 now and that’s very important as she’s well bred and it’s great for Al Shira’aa Farms. The owners have been very patient and have waited since the Matron for this. I said to wait for good ground. There were a few races that we probably should have entered her in but she would have had to carry a Group 3 penalty and I just said it wasn’t fair on her and we’d wait for this and it would be a nice pipe-opener for Royal Ascot. She stayed the mile well. Once she settles early, she’ll stay it no bother.
White Birch records first Group 1 win for Murphy with Gold Cup success
Irish 1000 Guineas falls to Karl Burke's Angel
I was pleased when the rain came to be fair. She just keeps galloping and stays very very well. She is very versatile ground wise and takes everything that comes in her stride. She showed last year that she’s top-class. Obviously we were disappointed with the Guineas, but I find it hard with three-year-olds — you just don’t know where you are with them. We sent her down to Newmarket fit and she didn’t blow that much afterwards. The ground maybe was a bit quick on the undulations, but that’s looking for excuses — we were beaten fair and square on the day. I knew coming out of the Guineas coming into this race that mentally she was in the right place. She just sparked up, especially in the last week or 10 days, and physically she looked fantastic.
Chief Little Rock makes all under Lordan to win Gallinule Stakes
I’m delighted with him. He stays very well, is an honest horse and could go to Ascot or back here for the Irish Derby. He’d love going a mile and a half. We felt in Epsom it was just a bit of a dawdle for him.
Hanalia improves on debut run to shed maiden tag for Murtagh
She ran really well in Gowran and I was worried about the ground but Ben said the Gowran ground was a lot worse than today. She got through it well. She’s not a slow filly. He said they didn’t go quick and he loved the way she travelled into the race. She quickened up and hit the line well. It’s a good trip for her and I wouldn’t be sticking her up to a mile and a half yet. The Oaks Trial at Naas could be a possibility for her.
Princess produces Fairytale result for Carroll and Lyons