Nikini lands the odds in Kilbeggan opener

Lad lands spoils on handicap debut

He's a very free horse and James did a nice job with him in his maidens. It's all down to John (Moran), he's with us for years and that's our first winner for him. He's an owner/breeder as well. James thinks there is another one in him. Chasing will be his job. We gave him one point run as a four-year-old and he got a bad fall and got badly broken up. That stopped us going down that route and we had to leave him off for a year. It's a fairytale story really and John is the man who does it all, we just get him fit.

Esperti continues fine form of Fahey stable

He's been running in very good maiden hurdles all along and after running well in Galway I spoke with Fergal (O'Neill) and we said we'd try and drop him into a lesser race and get a maiden out of the way with him,. He did it very well today and he'll tip away in handicaps now. He'll pay his way during the summer as he enjoys a bit of nice ground. The last while we were struggling to get a winner for Fergal and he was saying to me coming into the ring that's his 15th winner with me so it's great as he's only with me the last couple of years.

Darver Stars under birthday boy Donoghue

Pairc Na Ngael makes class count in Kieran Kelly Memorial

It's been a long struggle to get him to win and I'm glad to get it. His jumping is just average and he hit a few. The strong gallop probably suited him. He ran well the last day and was probably entitled to win off that. He'll keep at that game and we'll look for a 0-116 or 0-123 now and see what way we go.

Arrycan continues good recent run of Sean Flanagan

He's been very consistent. It was a drop back in trip but I just felt when I saw the entries, it was a good pot, and there were only 11 in it so we had to go for it,. Sean gave him a lovely ride, got him into a nice rhythm, and I said to him don't be waiting for them as he stays further. I know he was in front a long way, and he said it coming in. Maybe we could have done with the last fence being there. I'm delighted for the lads, some of them were in Bog War with me and for some of them it's their first horse. Bog War won seven for them and they are just a good bunch of lads. They really enjoy it and Kilbeggan would be local to us as well so it's great.

Hermine much too strong for bumper rivals