Going - Flat: heavy. N.H.: soft to heavy, heavy in places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 51,530.24 Dividend - 1,387.30 Winning Units - 26. Placepot Pool - 5,945.07 Dividend - 275.50 Winning Units - 15.1. Pick Six Pool - 17,156.90 Not Won. Carried forward to Listowel on Friday 16th September. Days Aggregate - 321,567.00 Last Year 283,707.00
Araqeel takes opener with ease
We're very happy with him. He had a little hold up with him last year but his form was very strong. It's nice to confirm that form and he'll go for a handicap next.
Katie comes from last to first to score
Weld and Smullen double up with Aydoun
He is a good strong staying horse and it was a good performance first time out around here. He's a bit deceiving at home as he is so laid back but is a horse I like. He kept increasing it (the pace) every furlong and did it like a nice horse. He is a horse that we've always had time for and is a typical late developing Aga Khan bred horse. Last year you just had to stand back and give him space and you can see there he is a fine horse and is going the right way. We're going to find a winners' race for him next and we'll see where we go from there.
Universe completes Weld/Smullen treble
He's been a great servant to the year for many a year and he's a bit of an old pet. We're over the moon with that as he's an old warrior and we've always thought a lot of him. He is a big, gross horse with age so it took until now to get him fit. It's also was very important for (owner) Ronan Lambe to get a winner and I don't think anyone is riding as well as Pat is at the moment.
Freedom takes to fences well
He's probably not the most consistent but I'm delighted for the owner Paul Leech and his wife Kim who travel over from Boston every time he runs,. Paul is from England and rang me up a few years ago out of the blue to buy a horse - they enjoy it and it's great to get another winner for them. He seemed to come alive when we schooled him over fences recently and we'll tip away from here and see what mark he gets.
Jack lands nice pot on handicap debut
He's a good horse but it has taken him this long to come to hand. If you see the size of him, he's 17 hands, and it has taken him this time,. He is still improving but wasn't strong enough to handle the winter conditions last year. He went and won well at Galway on better ground and while I was worried about the ground today, he is a better and stronger horse now. He's belonging to my parents and I'd say they won't sell him but you wouldn't know. He was nearly sold but he was leaving the yard and I wasn't having it. It's great to have them here today. The future is chasing and he's as exciting as we have. Whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus but he's a novice hurdler for the year and maybe can go chasing later in the year. I've a good team of staff too and I'll have to give them a mention too.
Rua routs his rivals
He had form on winter ground in the past. I wasn't sure about today's dead ground but he handled it well,. He is thriving on his racing and will run again tomorrow under a 5lbs claimer (Donagh Meyler, and also set to carry a mandatory 4lbs penalty).
Eyecatcher completes bumper hat-trick
She was a little fresh in herself but it's nice for a mare to win three bumpers,. She'll go for a Graded bumper at Gowran in a fortnight and after that will go hurdling. She'll stay hurdling for a season and will then go chasing. She is bred to stay but is classy with it and is also good to jump. She's a lovely mare to have.