Slattery's enthusiasm rewarded by Branch

He's as good as I've ever had and is the only two year old that could work with An Saighduir and go away from him. He was a bit coltish beforehand and a bit green and we were worried about his draw in 14 but he's in the National Stakes - that's how much I think of him. He's not short of pace and can drop down in trip. He's 16.2hh and is as big as a national hunt horse and I'll take my time with him for a while. I'm going to have a crack at the National Stakes as I think there's more to come. He's a proper horse. He's my wife Mary's horse and it's her first runner. We only got the colours last week and they are the colours of (Champion Hurdle winner) Winning Fair who my father won nine races on - we got the colours back again.

Sister Slew now a five time winner

Munaashid gets off the mark

Gambling proves much too good for Rules

Chief defends his Connacht National crown

He's a tough little horse and winning this race with him last year was the first time I was so impressed with him. However that evening, I thought he broke his pelvis being left out in the field and I was so long getting him back and when he did come back, he wasn't jumping as good as the way he could. I was disgusted with the way he jumped at Ballinrobe - he was like a horse going out for a beginners chase for the first time. It was duck-or-no-dinner with him the other morning when I rode him at five furlong pace over fences and he schooled really well. My horses were out of form but they're back now and he'll go back and try to win the Galway Blazers again (won it in 2014).

Harrington & Power double-up with Duke

I didn't want to get him a fall the first day over fences and could be much more positive today and he jumped super. When you want him (to jump), he's there and if you let him be careful he is, and the further he goes the better he'll be.