Going - Soft, Heavy in Places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €5,371.00 Dividend - €503.50 Winning Units - 8. Placepot Pool - €27,664.60 Dividend - €219.40 Winning Units - 94.55. Days Aggregate - €384,878.11 Last Year
Dibayani delivers as expected
In the testing conditions it was a good performance. He settled well and went through the gap well. It was a nice step up from his first run. He'll go for a Stakes race now and he should keep improving and he will appreciate better ground.
Tannery catches Caponata close home
She is a very tough filly and seems to handle any kind of ground. She will go a bit further. I'm not sure what happened her at Leopardstown, the ground was loose and sloppy there and she just didn't pick up (5th there in June). She is a very straightforward filly and has a good pedigree. There is a good programme of races here in Ireland for her and she might go for the Blandford Stakes. She could also go for a race in the US in the autumn.
Grafelli impresses in Anglesey Stakes
We will step him up to a Group 2 next and there maybe a race for him in France later in the year. He handled the ground really well. We knew he would come on quite a bit on homework. He is a bit behind Dawn Approach but he could be catching up on him now. The trip and the ground don't matter to him. I expect him to get a mile and I think he will be even better on better ground. His owner (Sylvain Benillouche) is a Frenchman and he owns a stud farm in Normandy. He has had horses with us down through the years since 1982.
Heavens comes from the clouds to win Oaks
She got boxed in and William just couldn't do anything. I had nearly given up hope two furlongs out but she is classy and answered a big question in the final furlong. She will get an entry in the Yorkshire Oaks and the St Leger. There's no reason that a filly of her class couldn't do something like that - someone has got to take on Camelot!
Fourth Derby win for Nina
She is such a genuine filly and tries so hard. She's improving with every run. We have her swimming to keep her fresh. The great thing with Nina is that you don't have to give her orders. This filly's dam didn't win until she was a five-year-old and then she went on to win seven races. I said beforehand that if she won this then the obvious race to go for would be the premier fillies handicap back here in September.
Big win for Bellini as he takes the Rockingham
My plan was to go for the seven furlong handicap yesterday but when I saw the entries for this I knew the field wasn't going to be too big so I decided to go for it instead. He is not an out and out sprinter but the way the ground is he is getting away with the five. He was rated 51 just six weeks ago and I'm a bit shocked as I didn't think he was as good as this. He is versatile trip wise and he will probably go to Galway now for the big seven furlong handicap. Ian is value for around three or four pounds as he knows him so well.
Doubles for Halford & Aga Khan
She's a bit keen and she didn't get much cover on her last two runs. Shane did a good job today. She's very genuine and straight forward, and we'll keep going handicapping for the time being. It would help if she settled a bit better.
Balladiene just gets up for in form Whelan
I'm absolutely thrilled for both myself and the owners. It's just fantastic to win a handicap like this on Oaks day. Both the horse and jockey really delivered today. Ronan gave her a great ride and that is three wins from four rides for him this weekend. Usually she would be on a break now but as soon as the ground dries out she will be.
