Going - Soft to Heavy. Overcast
Placepot Pool - €28,998.64 Dividend - €64.30 Winning Units - 300.01. Quadpot Pool - €4,069.88 Dividend - €9.10 Winning Units - 327.99. Days Aggregate - €167,754.00 Last Year €122,350.00
Castletownshend finally gets his turn
That was long overdue and he's only run a few times over seven furlongs.
Cool Keane ride sees Ecliptical home in front
We didn't really want to run him back that quick but Vincent (Gaul) is a local owner and loves to support Bellewstown. It's a Foran qualifier with a good pot and a plus ten bonus. They went that quick early doors that Colin said he went slower at the Curragh (over six furlongs). He felt they would come back to him and he's so genuine that he handled the ground. No horse really wants tacky heavy ground like that. It should stand to him for the final of this series over seven furlongs on autumn ground. He was only ready to start at the Curragh and the penny just started to drop late on. From now on he'll improve as he had a touch of sore shins in the middle of the summer and we backed off him.
Hogan's Princess beats odds-on stablemate
We don't have her that long and she was getting a bit overlooked with the other one in there. She's always went well and had the draw and the run of the race. She handled the ground well and is by Exceed And Excel who has been lucky for me. The owner John Quigley is a breeder and just wanted to get a win to her name. It looks like she will go on to better things. Joe Doyle said he got thrown out wide and probably the ground wasn't ideal for Grammata either.
Panther powers home after slow start
I didn't think we would have to wait as long to win one. The form of his runs in Navan have worked out very well, and I thought he ran well at Naas last Sunday where he was on the wrong side. We were bringing him back in trip but I still think he gets six no problem. His target is the Tattersalls Sales race at the Curragh next month. I still think we haven’t seen the best of him and he wants better ground to be seen at his best. He's named after Anton O'Toole, the famous Dublin footballer. He was a very nice fella and a racegoer.
Hat-trick bid for Step tomorrow as Keane doubles-up
We were in two minds whether to turn out tomorrow but we surely will now. She put up a good performance there. I was just a bit afraid of the ground but I walked it earlier and didn't think it was too bad. If it was good ground they wouldn't see which way she went here as she has a load of boot.
Deserved win for 'superstar' Fizz
She's a tough mare. She was second in the Curragh on Saturday and she ran in the same race last year before winning here over hurdles. We have her entered for the Petingo Handicap in Leopardstown on Champions Weekend so fingers crossed she’ll get in. She was due to go up 5lb and whatever she gets today should give her a good chance of getting in. She deserves a crack at a good pot. She's been consistent all season and we're delighted to get her head in front. Ideally she wants the ground a bit better but she's stronger this year and seems to be dealing with the softer ground on the flat. She was just done for third in the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary. When she's jumping she just can't seem to get out of the tacky ground but on the flat she seems to be a different mare. She likes to get on with it and make the running. We didn't get a clear lead today but Mark gave her a peach of a ride. I told him if something wanted to force the pace then he could slot her in and get her settled. He said she just kept finding a gear for him.
Versatile Millie completes treble for Keane
The ground and the trip suited her. It's a long time since she won on the flat but she's entitled to that off her mark. We're going to mix it with her and she has a mark over fences of 109 as well. She's versatile and tough out. I'm only about ten minutes from the track so it's great to have a winner here. We've had a good bit of luck here over the years. Her owner Mick O’Neill is quite elderly but lives for racing and would love to be here. He comes to see her every week. He was offered a good bit for her when she won a maiden at Navan on her second run but he enjoys it too much to sell her.
Kidder makes it a fabulous four for Keane
He's been knocking on the door but we needed the jockey. Hopefully he'll have a chance again in a handicap somewhere if he (the handicapper) doesn’t bump him up too much. He seems to stay well and handles that ground but he goes on good ground too. He'll be going back jumping as well.
