Going - Standard. Dry and bright
Jackpot Pool - 1,961.31 Dividend - 2,187.10 Winning Units - 1.13. Placepot Pool - 18,842.86 Dividend - 55.80 Winning Units - 236.05. Days Aggregate - 125,591.57 Last Year 163,368.42
Xpress too sharp for rivals in Dundalk opener
He got a 13lb penalty the last day but he was 4lb out of the handicap, so in effect he was 9lb and we claimed 5lb. So we were saying it was a 4lb penalty,. He has loads of boot, piles of boot. He showed a nice bit last year but had a bit of trouble with sore shins and that. He won nicely. He could turn out next week on Sunday in a three-year-old only handicap in Naas or we might look for a decent pot for him, we'll see what the handicapper does. I think the dam is a half-sister to the good horse that Ger Lyons has, Power Under Me, so that is where it (pace) comes from. His full brother (Bodean) runs over a mile here later.
McConnells celebrating again after Switch win
Gibney strikes with Never
It was (a fair effort from stall 16), we were worried about the draw,. I'm thrilled for Leo (Reilly, owner) as she's a home-bred filly. There was plenty of merit in her last run and she is improving with her racing. She is getting to know her job. She handles a cut in the ground, so we are kind of looking forward to going to the grass.
S'all Good for Bennett and Farrell
Almendares continues on an upward curve
He's improving on every run, he's going the right way and two on the bounce. He'll probably be sold now I'd imagine, Hong Kong was interested in him during the week. He was rated 81, so we came here and he will probably go to 90 now. He's getting better and I think there is more to come. We thought he was a nice horse last year but he was a bit weak, sore shins and that. I thought Vanguard Star beat him very easily the last day, but he obviously is after improving a lot since then. I knew he would improve, but I didn't know he would improve that much.
Sheridan shines on front-runner Tai
Joey is brilliant for that (front-running), he really is. If ever a jockey was made for a horse, it was him especially with the hotpot (6/5f Dream Today) and the only way to do it was to try and be aggressive and see - catch me if you can. We told him 'when you go for him, absolutely set him alight and if it works it works, and if it doesn't, it isn't down on you'. When he gets away like that, you can ride him like that because he won't shirk it. If horses are coming to him, he won't throw it in like some horses - if you go too hard they just fold. He was leading it (leading horse of the winter series in Dundalk) up until today. Actually, the horse that finished second (Inflection Point) was second in the race for it. For an old horse like him to do that, it is grand. I think that is four winners in the last three meetings here. When you get good, genuine horses like that, you can run them away. To be fair, a few of the horses I ran today the jockeys are saying it is just a bit quick for them up here and to try them on the grass. We'll tip away and see how they fare. It is great to get Joey a winner as well, we have had a long association with him.
South African jockey Mjoka scores on Soldier
This lad is good, he's had 80 something winners. He's a good rider. I got two good jockeys from South Africa - Calvin Ngcobo has ridden plenty of winners as well. They work for me. I sourced them, I watched them. The standard in South Africa is quite good. I approached plenty of guys and these two guys were on the list. Calvin rode Red Vermillion here about a month ago. They are only here about a month. We will try and get them a few outside rides, but it is tough in Ireland.
Murphy off the mark on family-owned Akmaam