Oaks Soldier justifies favouritism in first at Cork

He has shown us that at home and was unlucky when beaten by just a nose the last day at Thurles. Carl gave him a lovely patient ride and the plan was to come late. Hopefully there is better to come although that'll probably be it for this season as he has enough done.

McNiff's Houndsworth causes 40/1 upset under Deegan

Winters rises from the bed with Easter winner

I’ve had a couple of bad accidents in the last few years so your body kind of shuts down, and I put down a couple of bad nights after Thurles. A first-time-out horse backed in on top of me, knocked me over and ‘buried’ me. I got bruised all over, and the real injuries came in the sternum, ribs and collarbone areas. With the way the world is going and with people receiving treatment for various things, you’d be thankful it wasn’t worse. I’m used to the injuries and if I printed them, it would take a book, but I’m nearly gone to the stage now with one more thump, I’ll say goodbye. I rode out six horses this morning though.

Consistent Tiffiny's Girl gains well deserved first win

Lawful Ruler beats Hunt Away in driving finish

Tadhg loves racing and always has done, so this is a wonderful day. He'd love to stay race-riding but is a tall lad so his weight might come against him. Tadhg rides out for Paul (Stafford), my daughter Abbie, who has a handlers' license for point-to-pointing and also for Conor Maxwell and Ian Donoghue. I'm the farrier at Tattersalls, so buy a few horses every year and picked this horse up as a three-year-old.

Christie wins Jack Tyner Memorial Chase

I’ve been trying to win this Jack Tyner-race for a long time as I knew Jack when he was riding, so it means a lot to win the race. Jack never rode for me but I often walked the point-to-point tracks in the north with him and his father Robert. They are a lovely family and he was a lovely lad. Journey With Me has been disappointing but my horses were sick from December to the end of January, and he was one of the sickest. He had run under a cloud since and I don’t think the heavy ground suited either. Often with these horses who were once high-class, they would have gone through a tough time to be high-class and it takes a pile to get them back. I’m just delighted to get him back and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that today’s race was over 2m4f. His Oldtown form in February had been rubbished but it has actually worked out well. He was bought to race in Aintree’s Foxhunters but we couldn’t get him there and while we will probably run in Punchestown now, I’d say three-miles isn’t really his distance. Hopefully he’ll go to Aintree next year.

Zambezi Moon a shock 80/1 winner of Cork bumper

He had been doing it at home but not in his point-to-points. It was brave to come here on his form but Darragh Allen rode him in work last week and said he won't be out of the first three, and he was right. It was a pity he couldn't ride him, as he had done everything with him, but is in Fairyhouse today. Cal gave him a might ride and I'm delighted to get it. He'll have a summer campaign now as he likes that ground and the owners, who are local in Rathcormac, are with me for years so I'm delighted for them.

Born Believing wins Cork finale for Claire and Dara O'Connell

Her brother Born Braver has just finished (10th) in the Grand National but it probably came too soon after his Ulster National win and we've always felt this one had more foot than him. It is a great pedigree. Dara is my youngest son and the other two are at home looking after the other horses. We are a small family business so when you get a good one it really makes it worthwhile and we'll try and hold on to her. We might go for a winners' bumper now and she won't go over hurdles until next autumn. She is improving all the time and is still a bit green, so she'll improve away. Dara is doing his Leaving Cert this year so isn't allowed ride over jumps until then and has to go back to study now! Hopefully he'll get into college and he is stay riding as an amateur too.