Results Galway Fri, 4th Aug, 2023

Ifiwerearichman has connections singing at 28/1

Captain Maverick swoops late for Weld/Hayes

He did it nicely, he's a brave horse. Ben (Curtin) bred him and owns him and this was an ambition of his, to see if he could have a winner at Galway and he's achieved it,. said Weld. A mile is probably his right trip. He's a lovely laidback individual and I just thought cheekpieces might sharpen him and it did. He's a big baby still, he's a horse with a nice bit of improvement in him. He's by Free Eagle and he's bred to be a nice horse. Free Eagle was a very good horse, he won the Prince Of Wales for me. He was an outstanding horse, a tough horse and his son is a tough horse too. I think today was the day but a nursery would be the plan for him. He's a lovely horse and he'll keep improving. My only concern, really, today was the ground. He's a very good mover and I think quicker ground will suit well.

Toss Again jumps like a stag to give De Bromhead another Blazers

I'm delighted for Tom O'Connor, his owner. He and his brother and his mum are here so that's great. He was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on him. It's only his first run in a handicap and second run over fences, obviously he lacked experience but his jumping is savage and he was brilliant the whole way. I thought it (handicap rating) was fair, off his hurdle mark. We hoped he had improved for fences, he won his beginners chase nicely in Limerick. The lack of experience around here (was a worry) but you wouldn't have thought it with the way he jumped. He really stayed at it and I thought Darragh gave him a super ride. We won't rush, today was the plan and he's still a novice. He has options. He probably prefers nicer ground, I'd say he's better on better ground.

Brazil goes from zero to hero with feature race win

Yesterday was the plan but unfortunately that didn't go to plan and in fairness to Mark (Walsh) he looked after him. We had him in today and it was great, Niall gave him a great ride so I'm delighted. When I was only a young lad, Niall was in India when Dad was over there so I know Niall a long time. It's great and he gave him a great ride.

Earl's sister looks another useful prospect

She's a nice filly, she's a sister of Earl Of Tyrone that we had last year, and it's great to get her started. I thought she'd run a nice race today and I'm thrilled that she won. He probably intended to be a little bit closer than he was, but he was where he was. At the top he angled himself out to track Chris (Hayes) and he looked comfortable, his two elbows were in by his side coming down into the dip and up the hill and I thought we had a chance. She's been with a couple of different pre-trainers and Brian O'Connor, in Kilkenny, did a very good job with her before she came to me. I purposefully left her out, brought her in in the spring and we've taken our time and she was just ready to start. I think she'll be a nice four-year-old and up. Robert (Moran, owner) is in Ireland and he'd love to have been here tonight and he'd love to see her out again so she might have another run this year but I'd say it's very much next year with her.

Fratas goes 2 places better 4 days later

She ran well here the other night. I thought we might have gone a little bit too far with her then and it was a very hot race, a better class of a handicap. Dropping her back tonight she seemed to do things right and got things her own way. She got an ideal run for Galway and the young fella have her a great ride, he did everything right. The lads got him to ride her the other night and they said to try and book him again for tonight so we're delighted things worked out. She's after having three quick runs so we'll be giving her a little break.

Shanoe gains poignant repeat win in Rockshore Race

It's sad as the owner Brian passed away last September, it's hard that way because he's a cousin of mine and his wife sadly misses him. He was a great man and loved this horse and he would have loved this. He loved him and was a great man for the game. He took bad news really well, he was a real shrewd, good man and he's just gone too soon. He was a great man to have around the place. He finds plenty, he's tough. Robbie realised they didn't go hard and didn't know whether to go on and then it was tactical. You always have to respect Willies'. It was a good race, it was a proper race for here and a good race for no money as the man says!. The rain came, he's not the easiest to train but when he's right he's good. I threw him into the Shergar Cup in Ascot next week but he'll be last to get into it as it's a 0-100 and he's 102. We'll see, he might go there. If not he might go back to York on the Wednesday for the two-mile. Last year the ground went a bit quick for him on the Saturday (in the Ebor) and it was probably the wrong thing to do (run him) but we were there. It was a good thing in a way because that was the last time Brian seen him. He's brilliant, he's the best horse I've ever had. He's a classy horse, I just need a few more of them. He knows he's good and he's spoilt rotten. He's nine but he won his bumper when he was five so he doesn't have much mileage either.

Sign From Above sends punters home happy in the finale

It's brilliant. I fancied him really well yesterday, he finished out his race really well but didn't get there in time. I haven't been home but the lads at home said he was in great nick this morning so we decided to run him and thank-God it paid off. The rain took the real speed out of it and he got to travel really well and Ronan rode him with loads of confidence. It's great, he runs in Ber, my wife's colours, but her brother Andrew (Leigh) owns a good bit of him as well and enjoys it as well. He's a lovely horse and he's very consistent. He'll end up having a nice mark over hurdles and he's a great horse to have fun with. We love it down here. I actually had a runner in the first and it didn't work out so I went into the town, met the lads and had a bit of craic and came back out for the last! It was great, thank-God.