Leafy Shade makes a promising debut

Hopefully she's a filly with a future,. We've a few others to sort out and we'll see how we get on at Leopardstown next Thursday (Silver Flash). We also have to see the filly that won in Tipperary (Mrs King). She's kind of been there with all of those.

Duke delighted to win O'Donovan's race

They tell you Curragh trainers need to get winners at the Curragh but this is a really special one,. Myself and Pat go back a long way and are really good friends so I was under a bit of pressure. I texted my mentor his mark on Wednesday and he texted back 'will he win?'. I replied 'yes Jim you're safe'. He's a smashing little horse and has run into three high-class two-year-olds. The horse that won the maiden here yesterday (Shogun) was behind him when he was third last time. He's not ground dependent and handles anywhere from five to seven. He has loads of pace. I won this last year and I've won three with his half-brother Focussed. Kevin was a huge help to me. He rode him in Listowel and said to me that one day I'd have to geld him and I wouldn't hang around. It's not that he was unruly but it just made a difference keeping him focused. This means an awful lot to me personally to win this race. Pat thoroughly merited the award and is one of the huge number of people behind the front-line who gets the front-line people to where they are. It tells a tale that he's 35 years with JS Bolger, he has a fair temperament!

Home Of The Brave another for Palmer

I thought he'd win but I didn't quite think he'd win like that. He's a very immature horse and that's why he was so lightly raced at two. He always showed he was a horse with amazing speed from Christmas as a yearling. He was terrifyingly quick. Andrea my head girl has been a huge part in his upbringing teaching him to settle. He did that perfectly today. He went down like a lamb, came back like a lamb and quickened away from them. He's the second Group-winning son of Starspangledbanner from 27 foals. I'd expect he'll cover more mares now and he'll be able to upgrade what he is as a stallion. The Hungerford Stakes would look the obvious next target. There is the Prix Maurice de Gheest but that might be his Group One for next year. We thought after the Guineas that he was a sprinter but that might just have come a bit quick after the Free Handicap. He was cherry ripe for the Free Handicap.

Wedding Vow delivers on her promise

She had nice form earlier in the year but was too keen in Ascot over a mile-and-a-half with the blinkers on,. Back in trip today she settled. There wasn't much pace on and in fairness to her she quickened up really good. We could think about races in America for her or the Matron or something like that. A mile or a mile-and-a-quarter is probably her trip.

Champagne celebrations for McCreery

I was delighted to see the rain yesterday. She did everything lovely,. The front 2 pulled well away and I thought the bottom was the danger as she looked well in. I thought she might be too big a filly for Galway but the way she fought on there the hill might suit her. She's a lot tougher this year. She was a big frame of a filly last year and is after filling out.

Digeanta stays on best to score

Diamond Rio puts sparkle in her trainer's eye

She's improved nicely for the extra bit of distance. I knew she had ability and it's nice to see her improving. I think, in fact I'm quite sure she'll be better again over a mile-and-a-half. I don't know where we'll go next, I didn't think we'd be here so soon. I'm delighted and I'll see what mark she gets before deciding if we go for a winners of one or a handicap. We're planning to step up in trip anyway.