Going - Yielding to Soft (Straight), Yielding (Round). Showery
Jackpot Pool - €24,482.11 Dividend - €1,904.10 Winning Units - 9. Placepot Pool - €44,173.07 Dividend - €330.10 Winning Units - 93.65. Pick Six Pool - €43,305.20 Not Won. Carried forward to Curragh on Sunday 22nd May. Days Aggregate - €535,428.00 Last Year €506,311.00
Brave Anna sees them off in the Curragh
She came home well and is a sister to Hit It A Bomb who got a mile well. She can certainly step up to seven furlongs now. Ryan's horse (How) was a bit keen in front and got a bit tired. I'm a bit worried about the ground for Air Force Blue. We'll have to have a chat now and then decide. Today would help us to know whether to stay at a mile or go back to six furlongs at Royal Ascot. I really believe he's a very quick horse. We had a similar decision to run or not in the National Stakes last year, and we decided to run in order to know if he would handle the ground for this year. He got away with it that day but he has another furlong to go now.
Downforce handles BMW Handicap best
We were worried the last day [on heavy ground] but he handled it well. I was confident coming in today that there was a big run on the cards so I'm delighted he has proved it. It's slow ground, it is nearly soft. It's going well, I've a bit of luck on my side and momentum there at the moment so hopefully it will keep going. He's still immature but he has a grand way of going and he settled in well. He has plenty of pace for five furlongs especially on that soft ground. He's in again at Gowran on Wednesday over seven furlongs. We'll see what yer man (the handicapper) does and also the man above with the ground. It's nice to get a winner on Guineas day.
Caravaggio gives O'Brien more Marble glory
He's not a soft ground horse so I'm very happy with that. That's his first run on grass, and he will have learned a lot today. Ryan gave him a lovely ride. We'll have to decide which race to go for at Royal Ascot but I think he will get six furlongs.
Channon strikes in Curragh with Mobsta
The boss Mick (Channon) rang me this morning to see how much rain we had and said that every drop that fell would help. I'm glad we got those heavy showers because he's a heavy-shouldered horse and he got through the ground very well. They were quietly confident of a big run from him. I couldn't believe he was the price he was. You had to forgive him Newmarket and you could see why he didn't run well in Newmarket, running downhill on fast ground wouldn't be for him but his previous run at Doncaster left him with a big chance. Thankfully we came out the right side in the finish. We thought a lot of this horse coming into this year. He probably ran back a bit quick the last day, so we freshened him up and the heavens opened which suited him. It's worked out perfect. He'll not run on anything faster than good but he'll be entered in all the good six furlong races. He's earned the right to go for them now and if it comes up soft he'll take his chance. As dad always reminds us he won the FA Cup with Southampton. It's 40 years ago today so it seems to have brought us a bit of luck.
Classic winner Awtaad shows his gears
It was great, the best thing that has happened to me for years. I'd like to thank Sheikh Hamdan for having faith in me for a long time. He's a very good horse. He's improving and I think a trip won't be any different problem to him.
McCreery and Lee at double with Devonshire
She goes on any ground bar fast ground. She went to Canada last year and hopefully she can do it again. It's nice to be riding them [Willie McCreery's horses] and it gives you good confidence when they are winning like that so hopefully it'll continue. Billy counts for a lot on her as he knows her so well. He gave her a lovely ride and the bit of cover helped. We said that we wouldn't let it turn into a sprint. I think the weight of 9st12lb beat her the last day. The 9st today was a big help as she's not that big but she's all heart. There are a few options in America which could suit her where she would only carry 8st8lb.
Dream win for Mooney on Guineas day
He's had heaps of problems with ulcers and kissing spines but my vet, Liam Sharp, has done a great job. He believes in himself now and is improving. He's improved from Chester and I think he can improve again. I took out a training licence a couple of years ago. I've four in training, all my own, and that's my first winner.
