Results Galway Sat, 5th Aug, 2023

Enfranchise makes most of Galway experience

She ran in the graded hurdle the other evening and was only beaten a length for second and to have had a run around here makes an awful difference,. I think she is very good and we like her a lot at home - I was disappointed she was beaten the other evening but we at least we got it today. This mare is after doing everything since I bought her, she won the (Ulster) Oaks (at Down Royal) and it is hard to get a mare like this one - I think she is very smart. I have her entered in the Ebor but she won't get in off her mark and we haven't looked any further than this.

Fahey makes it four for the week again with Fellow

Sam made a good move to nip up the inner before coming down the hill and it could have been the winning and losing of it. It was a brave move but it worked out great for him,. He lost his form a little bit but had an issue after he ran at Limerick last year and it took him a while to get back right. He had a lovely run the last day when he was completely wrong at the weights, but it gave him confidence coming here. I was worried about the ground but it worked out great. Tthere are four involved in the OGB Partnership including Ber (wife) and after he won a bumper we brought him to the sales but couldn't get anyone to buy him. We brought him home and he has now won at the Punchestown festival and has landed a big pot today. We had four winners last year, we've had good old craic again and it has been brilliant.

Hotpot Seal gets the job done

Bottler executes Galway plan for Murphy

He goes on any ground but really went on that ground today and Dylan was very strong on him and was teaching him as well. He was one we kept for Galway and it worked out beautifully,. I'm delighted for the lads who are from Portarlington and Kinnegad and bought him as a yearling and they came in with me. I have to compliment them as I didn't want to run him last year as he was backward and they said to do what I wanted. We brought him back this year, I told the lads we'd have one run before Galway and I really appreciate their trust in me to do that. This was always the plan, we couldn't have asked for any more and we haven't thought beyond today. He is bred to be a 1m2f-1m4f horse and we're very happy with him.

O'Brien and Heffernan double up with Portland

Malta on the mark back at Galway

Before Colin hit the ground at Killarney he said 'Galway, lads'. He had looked at his previous form and he folded a tiny bit in Killarney (finishing third) but seven furlongs here was spot on,. His form is very solid and there were a lot of ducks in a row today. It is hard to get him early in the year but he comes to form in the autumn and that's just him. Peter Keogh, from Knocklong, who heads up the syndicate, is with us three or four years and makes the entries, decides on who rides him etc and we try him have the horses fit and healthy. I like to think we do things to a very high standard and it is a team effort. I have no idea where we're going next!

Coeur collects deserved victory

We didn't know how he'd handle coming back just three days after his last run but he got a massage on Wednesday night and we had him out in the paddock since. He was due to go up 10lb but we had to roll the dice,. Gary said going further would suit him better. It is great to get that win, he is a progressive horse but has had two sinus operations and the clinic in Fethard were very good. With those sinus operations you have to give them a lot of time to clear up. He had his little problems but has got over them and hopefully can come back here next year. This is a wonderful occasion to have another winner in Galway and is great for Tom (Egan) and all the boys.

Barron strikes again as Lighting lands gamble for Byrnes

She is a good honest filly who ran well here last October when finishing a closing fifth. She had a nice run back in Wexford and we thought she had come on from that,. She came home well and surprised Ray in how well she quickened up. He had a good position but got blocked a bit turning-in and had to sit and suffer, although the leaders came back to him near the finish. She jumps nicely and will go on softish ground, which is a big plus going forward. There is a Listed bumper at Gowran and I think she is up to getting black-type. Ray is with me every morning and is riding a long time. He is very strong and with his experience, his 7lb claim is a bit like having Rob James (experienced point-to-point rider). Ray rides her every day at home and had a lot of confidence in her. We thought she was fairly right going to Wexford but has tightened up a lot since. We had a few quid each-way on.