Results Galway Sat, 3rd Aug, 2024

One-two for Mullins in Saturday opener

Both my horses were nine and seven years of age and were coming off the Flat so wouldn't have known about hurdling and Jackfinbar was very keen. It is a different pace over jumps so they had to settle back and think, but both did it nicely. It was a pity having to run them against each other but I hadn't another opportunity to get them out this week and I wanted to run. . Jackfinbar had two injuries and was too late when he came out to go novice hurdling last year and with the other fellow (Hipop De Loire), I just wanted to wait with him. They are two nice horses. The first and second might go to the Ebor in York now - Absurde got beaten here last year and went on and won the Ebor so these will try and do the same.

The Wallpark claims last-gasp success under Ewing

We thought the step up in trip would suit him, he was very tough and I’m delighted for (owner) Fran (Mangan), who put his money down and bought him and is now getting his rewards. Beacon Edge also ran a great race under top-weight to finish fourth and the whole way through his career he has been a right horse, but is difficult to place. The winner is a horse on the way up and it was almost the toss of a coin for which one Jack would pick and there was nothing between them in the race. It was a nice pot to win and The Wallpark could now end up trying to qualify for a Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Fran is actually down in Kerry playing golf today, so I’ll give him some stick over that! I’m delighted for him.

Lordan pulls the strings on Puppet Master

Two Galway runners, two Galway winners for Kinirons

Lady O a fourth Galway festival winner for Harrington

She had run some solid races and then went through a growing spurt so I thought she was well handicapped. She won on soft at Roscommon the first day and the ground was a little quick for her at Tipperary and Killarney but she relishes this stiff uphill finish as she will be a 1m2f filly for next year. I'm sure the handicapper will have his say but if she keeps progressing, we might try to get to Irish Champions Weekend for the Ingabelle Stakes which the syndicate won in 2018 with Sparkle'n'joy. They are very happy owners who have a good record here and I hope she can keep progressing for all the ladies, as we get great craic of it. There are 12 here today and there'll be big celebrations.

Gibney's grey strikes again at Ballybrit

It all went very smooth, which you don't always get around here but he had a good draw and it was a little drop in class having run well here on Tuesday. He absolutely loves it here and is a better horse here, and I can't think why. We were very worried about the ground but as he is getting older, is handling the easier ground better than he used to. Even though he is a big horse, he likes the tight tracks and we'll tip away now. Leonard Kinsella owns him on his own for the past year, he is with me from the start and is a great friend of mine.

Oriole flies home for the McMonagles

Cameletta Vega upholds family honour

She was a little bit worked up, but very professional once the race started. The plan wasn’t particularly to make the running, but nobody wanted to make it and I said we’d bowl along. We got to set our own fractions and kick off the bend. With her pedigree she was entitled to win.