Going - Standard. Cold and dry
Jackpot Pool - 404.55 Not Won. Carried forward to Fairyhouse on Saturday 29th November. Placepot Pool - 38,505.38 Dividend - 771.20 Winning Units - 35. Days Aggregate - 222,963.51 Last Year 254,648.26
Pietropaolo gets it right on Coleman's two-year-old
He's bred to be fast, but he stays well - he relaxes well. He's only learning to race. His first run was poor in Cork but the ground was too soft. He had been at a barrier trial 10 days before and he's a big horse and he was weak. He'll improve again and I'd imagine he is worth 12 grand (claiming price) all day long, we'll see. This horse doesn't know much - he didn't come into training until, I think, February or March. He missed all that yearling stage. He didn't really get the gaps there, just ability got him through in the end.
Arctic Steps gets up on the line for McGettigan
Great ride, he just came in time! . I thought she was struggling two furlongs down. He said when he got stuck into her, she stayed on very strongly. . She won in Down Royal at 66/1 one day and lost her form then. We kind of thought she didn't stay seven (furlongs). . We put cheekpieces on her and gave her a gallop here last week and we thought she was a lot better with them. We thought they would help some bit anyway. . She probably will keep coming up for the Winter Series. . Our own lad Rory would have been riding her, only he has gone to Australia. . He has a problem out there, he can't get a licence because an international apprentice has to have 40 winners before he can get a licence out there. . He got off the plane and won a barrier trial the next day! . He likes it and it is a bit of a working holiday for him, and a bit of learning for him. . He's with Robbie Griffiths in Melbourne and he will be back in Johnny's (Murtagh) for the Flat.
Progressive Angelight goes 4-3-2-1
Thorne on target again at Dundalk
The Curragh run back in May she had the Breeders' Cup winner (Balantina) behind her, and Andab won the race and I think Gavoo was second. That run alone gave us a lot of confidence that she would be capable of winning her maiden. . We ran her back in Leopardstown on soft ground thinking that she would handle a bit of dig, but there was torrential rain that day. . She suffered a bit of a setback then late spring and we only just ended up getting her out a couple of weeks ago (in Dundalk). She ran a bit free and gassy through it - Shane (Foley) looked after her,first run back after five months. . The plan was to come back for a '70' nursery on the 12th and we looked at this maiden. We made the entry on Monday -the filly was well, we gave her a piece of work, and it has worked out unbelievably well. . Delighted that she has shed her maiden tag in maiden company and hopefully that will give her a bit of confidence rolling forward. . She always showed us plenty in the spring,so hopefully she will be a filly that will progress through the winter. . She's a handy enough sort, but she has plenty of strength and size to her, and I think she will be a filly that will be more than capable of competing in the three-year-old grade next year.
Beau Army strikes for McGuinness & Cleary
She finished strong the last day and I was a little bit worried about dropping her back in trip, but I was still happy to do it. . She still has plenty of boot and she is learning, she is still green. She definitely will keep coming up here to learn more.
Win number nine for Collective Power
First winner for trainer Robson De Aguiar
Nice to have the first winner. Thanks to Kia (Joorabchian) for the support and thanks to all the team at home.
Well-backed Fixation scores on first run for Murtagh
Tricky race, we didn't go much of a gallop. I had a wide draw, so I got a bit of cover.