Going - Good, Good to Firm in places. Warm and dry
Jackpot Pool - 1,282.62 Dividend - 77.40 Winning Units - 11.59. Placepot Pool - 18,127.00 Dividend - 17.10 Winning Units - 740.12. Days Aggregate - 195,131.37 Last Year 169,351.79
Smart debutant Gstaad leads home O'Brien's maiden '1-2'
Devil's Angel registers first Irish success
Seattle brings up double for O'Brien at Navan
The Highway Rat resumes winning ways
he was tardy enough away, they went a good clip and Billy had to keep him on the bridle so the horse doesn't make it simple! Once he got to the bottom of the hill, I said we were going to win because it is a long way home here over five furlongs. He found every stride and it was a great ride by Billy - it was a very cool ride. He knows the horse and knows how to ride him. The handicapper had only dropped him a couple of pound here-and-there but we were hopeful when we saw this race as it is all about 'horses for courses' and he likes this place. He had a lot of weight to give away, but was a Group horse in his day. Whenever he revisits that form, he is always a danger. Older sprinters have their foibles, but he did it today so we are delighted.
Blinkered Ballinrobe-winner lands the Yeats Stakes
I was very happy with the way he did it in Ballinrobe. He's a horse that just does what he has to do, hence he wears headgear. I thought he would run a good race in Ballinrobe and thought he would finish the race well but he surprised me with how well he won: Donagh (O'Connor, jockey then) said he had to go down the back straight to pull him up. He came home, licked the pot, rode out this week, didn't care, and as the week went on, it became clear that he was ready to go. we were keen to get a lead, we knew we'd stay and while ordinarily we might have made the running, I don't think likes being in front too long. When he went to the front, to be fair to him, he picked up and rallied. He's keeping plenty for himself so I'd say there's plenty in him. The Queen's Vase in Royal Ascot is probably the right race for him: he's a stayer and has enough experience to go to a race like that. I was thrilled when Fiona (Carmichael, Carmers’ owner) asked us to train for her and she kindly sent me this horse. She has been very patient with me.
Sheridan earns the plaudits for his ride on Makaiah
Brilliant, a lovely ride. He said he would keep it simple and, drawn 10, try and get in third or fourth or fifth, and stay on the outside. He just said it went like clockwork. She really deserved it. She was unlucky in Sligo, she got caught in traffic and got there too late. She is so honest and she will pick up a hurdle race as well, we have a nice mark over hurdles. She got 3lb for Sligo without collecting. I'd say she will be out of the 60 (grade) now, although she is in Gowran on Wednesday over two miles. She will carry a penalty there and I'd say we will probably go if she eats up and is happy over the next couple of days.
Sunriseontheboyne bags Royal County Handicap
he's (Joyce) not bad, although I thought he was actually going a bit too fast!. Everybody has been saying he wasn't staying, but we knew he stayed. I think we were done for a little bit of toe the last day, so decided we weren't going to let that happen today. He has been coming out well out of stalls, so the plan was to make the running, kick on two-and-a-half or three furlongs down and see if we could get home. It was nice to get it and is a lovely pot at our local track.
Ballydoyle completes Navan treble