Drama in Curragh opener

Spirit shines in Sapphire

She's a very quick filly and if there were four-and-a-half furlong races she'd never get beaten!. We weren't going to bring her as the plan is a Listed race at Chester in a fortnight's time. (Owner) Robert (Bailey) said the ground might be too firm for our other runner Judge 'N Jury and to bring the filly as well. She's as fresh as a daisy and we've only sat on her once since she ran at Ayr last weekend. It was lucky she got a nice easy lead and that's the key to her. She got a second wind and managed to go again and was staying on all the way to the line. She has broken the track record three times at Kempton and also at Lingfield. She is full of speed. She'll still go to Chester and will be a much better filly then. That's my first winner is Ireland but we've had placed horses here before. Her and Judge 'N Jury both only cost £7,000. I was told by one jockey she'd only win a claimer so I'll remind him of that!

Johnston and Dettori warm up with Lord success

We were joking before that this was a practice run to see if it was not too soon to bring a horse here from Royal Ascot,. But it's a different level of racing and a different class of horse. I was keen to run again with this horse as he didn't really get a run at Ascot. He got boxed in and only got out two furlongs from home so he didn't get a hard race. Probably if we hadn't been running Monterosso we wouldn't have brought him. Bu it's good for Frankie to get a ride before the big one.

Formosina claims Railway thriller

He would have been an unlucky loser if he hadn't got the run. He struggled to get the run but once he got out he picked up well,. I'm relieved. I turned to the owner two furlongs out and said we wouldn't get a run. Luckily Ryan got through and he's a tough, hardy, solid two-year-old. It was worth the trip and I'm delighted. When he ran at Newbury first time (third behind Strong Suit) I rang the owner and said I'd just seen the Coventry winner. I knew it was a good race and the form has held up. I knew he would improve from that and he has also moved forward from Doncaster last time. He could have gone to Royal Ascot and run well but I didn't really want to take on Strong Suit again. I sat down and watched the Irish horses at Royal Ascot and although they ran well they weren't winning. So I thought here was my chance and thank god that thought process has led us to the right place. The only ground he wouldn't want is really soft. We'll look at the Champagne Stakes at Goodwood now for him.

Ash proves Invincible in Lottery bonanza

I'll have stall one on the Curragh from now on please!. We've been trying to get her some blacktype and that's her first run back in a handicap. There wasn't a lot of pace around her so I said to Gary to jump and let her roll. He gave her a smashing ride. I have to thank Julie Burke, who rides her everyday on her own and has put a lot of work into her. My next mission is to find this man who has won the million and get him to buy a horse!

Claudius completes quick hat-trick

Johnston lands double consolation

I made quite a few entries here today and it's always hard with handicappers to decide whether to come or not,. It was a huge field of entries and you have to make the decision to travel before declaration. I don't have enough runners here and possibly I've let the era of great Irish prizemoney pass. I have to wake up to the opportunities. Both my winners today were in the same boat having gone to Ascot with big expectations. They had no very obvious hard luck stories but I felt they just didn't get the rub of the green and there was more to come.