Going - Soft. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 5,300.76 Dividend - 551.50 Winning Units - 7.7. Placepot Pool - 31,730.81 Dividend - 97.20 Winning Units - 243.72. Pick Six Pool - 9,492.00
Rory beats Roi in Galway opener
He won his bumper first time but stuck his head in the air doing so and then ran two terrible races over hurdles and we had to get his wind done. Since he has got his wind done and has had a break, he has come back in a much nicer horse. Whatever he does over hurdles will be a bonus as he will be a nice chaser. He's a decent sort and loves that ground, which is heavy, heavy. I know the favourite (Poil Roi) didn't jump particularly well but it was a good maiden hurdle and it was a good performance. I wouldn't be afraid of going three miles and we'll paddle on and see how we go.
Shanning maintains unbeaten record
Persistent follows-up on Tipperary success
Meade & Flanagan double-up with Genie
He likes the hill and the heavy ground and when the going gets tough, the tough get going! That describes him well as he's not the quickest in the world but he'll stay going for you and keep trying and trying and trying. He had some very good form last year, even his run behind Disko was a good run on goodish ground whereas on that ground today he takes a bit of beating, especially over a trip. He'll probably be entered in the Grade 1 Nicholson Chase in Down Royal but maybe the Troytown Chase is the race for him. It'll be heavy ground at Navan and that might be his job and might be a more realistic target.
Friendless D'airy makes all under Cooper
Mahler another to make all at Galway
She is a smasher and will probably go up in the handicap now and will run in those mares chases. She is a fair detail, she's improving, loves the winter ground and can of course go back hurdling as she's rated 106. We gave her a run (on Sunday) as she is really stuffy and that run at Limerick must have put her spot on for today. You need to work her hard as she is a stuffy mare but only for her making a mistake at Limerick she would have won that as well.
Double for O'Brien as Gunner wins on debut