Going - Good, good to yielding in places. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €6,911.07 Not Won. Carried forward to No Course. Placepot Pool - €22,776.08 Dividend - €459.00 Winning Units - 34.73. Days Aggregate - €351,234.43 Last Year €153,908.84
O'Brien records seventh success at Listowel
The man's horses are in great form.
Big-race Glory for newly turned professional
I legged up Michael's dad Willie O'Sullivan for my first winner in a point-to-point in Dungarvan in the early 1990s and it has been a full turn of the wheel. He is a fantastic lad and to be honest I haven't been watching him that much, but have been hearing about him. I knew was cool, that's what I wanted and he gave the horse a fantastic ride. I told him not to go wide and if you have to sit, sit. He said he could have gone wide but he sat. He is unbelievable value for his 7lb claim. the horse works on his own because he is very hard on himself so I didn't have a clue what way he was going to run. After his Galway run we were disappointed but Donal MacAuley, who rides him out and does all the work with him, was happy and said he was in good form. He was eating and everything was ok and while we always felt there was a big handicap in him, I thought we were 10 or 12 pounds too high. Today was the big target but Sandy (Shaw, handicapper) will have a say now. He could jump a fence but could stay over hurdles for a while. The lads at home have done a great job and Michael Brown, my head lad, has been fantastic - this is a great boost.
Tullyhogue Fort keeps it in the family
He has run well over two miles and again at three miles but is still learning the job and was sick for a while since he won in Galway last year. The ground was a bit too soft at Galway the last day but he ran through the line and he stepped up today. I think he is better taking his time. He is an honest horse, jumps fences and is vert straightforward. Kevin (O'Neill) my cousin and myself bought him at the sales and both of us ride out in the morning. We only have two horses racing at the moment so 50% of them have won!. He is a low grade horse but if he won one race a year it would keep us all going.
Hourigan strikes at Listowel
It wouldn't be Listowel if I didn't have a winner although I didn't think I'd get one this week!. He has been disappointing and the last two times he ran he didn't jump great but the jockey makes a big difference. A fella that doesn't drink or smoke has a great chance and his heart is in the right place - all he wants to do is ride winners. I was lucky with Denis (Reddan, owner) for years and while we'll probably get a slap (from the handicapper), we'll go again soon.
Slevin continues good week with poignant winner
It was a long time coming but to win here in Listowel is great. They went fierce fast and it turned into a three-mile race really and it suited him. Confidence in a rider is everything and he gave him a brilliant ride. He ran well in Killarney when JJ thought he'd have gone very close only for making a mistake. He was meeting the same horses again and we were hopeful but I won't say we were confident.
Pat Coyne wins for Queally & Coleman
Aidan rode two horses for me today because my two regular jockeys Denis (O'Regan) and Jody (McGarvey) were injured. He gave the horse a peach. The horse has his time of the year, he has his slot and the distance suited. He always turns up and runs his race for us every day. We'll see what how the weather is towards the end of October as there are races at Galway and Wexford for him but the ground wouldn't want to go on him.
Gleeson gets a right tune out of Curling's mare
She is a right mare and was unlucky the last day when the race didn't pan out for her. The young lad gave her a very good ride today as she can be funny and it didn't happen for her early in the race. He gave her a chance and she came home well. That was a top class ride. That's as short as she'd want and there's a two miles Listed race at Bath in October for her. She is handicapped over hurdles but won't go on winter ground and will be left off for the winter. It is beautiful ground but that's as soft as she wants - she wants quick ground.
O'Sullivan completes 220/1 double
She had a very good run in Galway and mine tend to improve from run to run so we were hopeful as you could be today. Her dam won a bumper and her half-sister and half-brother both won bumpers for me. She is a handy little mare but is good and tough.
