Results Galway Wed, 27th Jul, 2022

Champ Kiely impresses on hurdles debut

I was hoping he'd win but didn't think he'd do anything like that and he has moved up a few places amongst our novice hurdlers for this year. That looked very good. There was a lot of confidence behind the favourite (Dawn Rising) and to come out and beat a 102-rated Flat horse like that was very good. I'll have a chat with Michael (Masterson, owner) and go through all the rest of the horses for the year before making a plan but he looks a smart type.

Mullins & Townend complete quick double

That was another nice surprise in the manner he did it,. You're hoping that if he could bring his chase form to hurdles he could do something like that but you don't expect to do that around Galway. Patrick (Mullins) usually manages Simon's (Wilson, owner) horses and I'll let them decide if he runs again on Saturday but we'll see how he comes out of the race. He has a nice mark for Saturday and after today I'd imagine he won't have it again for a while, so maybe we'll take our chance and run.

Outback Flyer on target for Fahey & Sexton

After winning in Wexford we aimed her at Punchestown but things didn't go right early in the race. I said to Johnny (Deacon) to take her home and we'd bring her back for Galway so it is great when a plan like that works out. On her first run, I ran her in a Listed bumper with the way she was working at home but I came home scratching my head. Things are now coming together with her and she is finishing off her races. Going forward she will make a cracking chaser and we might be back here again next year.

Hewick snatches Plate victory from the "Jaws" of defeat

He is a great horse, is very easy to train and it is great for the team at home as he is our star. Our game has gone very tough with the price of feed and everything, and we are a small yard. It is getting harder every day and to win this is unreal. My mother and father haven't been racing for three years, I am coming here all my life so it is great for everyone. This and the Kerry National, I have both won and we'll head back to Kerry with him now. He came from the sales in Goresbridge for €800. I met this horse coming in the back gate with a lovely walk and Paddy Mullins had said to me years ago 'if a horse can't walk, he can't run'. I went there to buy another horse and live only five minutes from the sales company, so went home for grub but was thinking about him and went back down and bought him. It has been a dream since there as he was unlucky to fall in his point-to-points, and otherwise would have been sold. He gave him a great ride, knew the horse and fair dues to Gordon (Elliott) who allowed me use the chap - he could have told him to ride one of his but said 'your horse has a chance', so allowed me use him. He was the first man to shake my hand coming back in.

Mullins completes treble with outsider Dads Lad

It surprised me to see him entered for it, as Patrick (Mullins) had him put in for a day out for the syndicate! . He disappointed me early on but is improving all the time and it is a fantastic day for Liam Cullinan and his syndicate (Whitegrass Racing) and for Ruth Dudfield, who came in for the ride which Patrick organised. Ruth is with us for a couple of years and gets on great with this horse at home. She broke well in the race and held her position the whole way. I was afraid she would get swallowed up on the hill but she kept nudging her nose out and kept him in a position.

Sir Antonino on the scoresheet for Spanish footballer

Scenic Look lasts it out to thwart Unanswered

She has been banging on the door and today was the day. She is a very tough mare, has had a lot of racing and keeps pulling out more every time she runs. She has an entry here on Saturday for a maiden hurdle so if she pulls out alright in the morning she might come back. She is owned by her breeder Thomas Keane, who is local to me.