After race at Down Royal Sat, 31st Aug, 2019 (1st)  We just spoke to Ronan (Whelan) beforehand and said to keep it simple. The rain getting into it meant that it is hard for a horse to come from behind. Ronan gave it a great ride - he hasn't ridden for me much before but he is a very, very good rider and it just worked out today he has a couple of rides for me. May this be the start of a good association!. He didn't win his maiden and we were slightly disappointed because we always liked him - a nice, easy-moving horse. He could be one that has just taken time to string things together. Hopefully he will start to improve and we will take it day by day. He has done that and stuck to his task well. I'm delighted and the chap we train for, J P Ledwidge, is a good supporter of mine so it is nice to get things rolling for him. He handled soft ground but he is such a good mover that I wouldn't have been seeking it out. We declared on good to yielding ground. That (soft ground) came and it didn't inconvenience him. It could open up possibilities that I am not ground dependent. A Oliver