Results Galway Sat, 2nd Aug, 2014

Marchese Marconi enjoys the Ballybrit rain

Prince Rudi shows his younger rivals the way

He's a machine for his age. I had him in the Galway Blazers, but we bypassed that to come here. He's been a model of consistency. The rain came at the right time. If there had been no rain he wouldn't have run. He won the Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown one year [in 2012] and missed going to Cheltenham by 3lbs and it was then we decided to go chasing with him. He'll run in the Kerry National if he gets in and the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas. If all goes to plan he'll have the Irish National as his long-term target.

McConnell unleashes Clonard Street

Yulong Xiongba devours the Galway hill

I thought the 5lbs might give him a chance and bring him closer to the horse that beat him, Intense Style. I thought the hill would suit him and Ross said he loved the ground and the hill. He's a hardy horse and he's going well.

Silwana another for Weld and Smullen

Winter Lion caps off fine week for Hogan

I've two wins and two seconds for the week. Everything I fancied ran well. It's massive for me to have these two wins. You could have 10 or 12 wins down the country, but the whole country tunes in here. He ran okay in Dundalk maidens, but took a while to find his feet. The ground was an unknown and I would have taken him out, but being Galway we said we'll see if he goes on it. He's a good-actioned horse and should make a smashing jumps horse. He fully came off the bridle coming down the hill, but he's gutsy and tough. John Oxx advised me to buy him. He was a big backward type and never ran for him.

Lucky Pat wins on his way to a chasing career

We thought he would run a big race here on Monday [sixth in the bumper then], but everything went wrong. The false start upset him, but he actually ran well. I was a bit nervous the ground had changed, but we had great hopes for him. We'll consult Martin (Carey, owner), but I'd say he's too good a jumper to go hurdling. I'd say he might go chasing straight away, he's a magnificent jumper.