Nastya gets favourite backers off to a flyer at Down Royal

Circus Act has Down Royal crowds applauding

There's no particular reason - I suppose she might have been on the go too long the last time and we should have maybe pulled the plug a bit earlier. In saying that, she is a year older and she's not a big mare. She appreciates nice ground and that was a big help to her. Ben gave her a lovely ride, so it is great. She's a brilliant jumper and she stays very well. I was nearly happy to see the lads getting run away with down the back because I wondered were they going quick enough for her. That qualifies her now for the final in Punchestown or the 0-110 final in Killarney, so she will go somewhere nice next.

Sea Aster beats stablemate to bring up treble for Elliott and Gilligan

Torrens leads the Way on Rothwell's Gustavo

That horse was running an absolute super race in Thurles and got brought down. He went to Wexford and was running a super race and the saddle slipped. He went to Wexford the next day and I shouldn't have run him, it was way softer than what was given and the rain came. He wants a galloping track and good ground so, even though I thought today was coming a little bit quick for him, it was the right race and we stuck him in and thank God. I'd say after the rough and tumble he got for the last few weeks, it is easier to jump a hurdle. He did jump well and he jumped well around Wexford the last day over fences. He has just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has had some good runs, he was third in Gowran last year in a nice chase. Winter ground just didn't suit. We put blinkers on and made the running in Leopardstown just to get interest back again. Then we stepped him back up in trip and started to drop him in. I was hoping he would win in Thurles and this is very much overdue. It was getting to the stage that I was feeling sorry for the lads and thinking of trading him in because I was starting to second guess myself. Now it is onwards and upwards.

Smitty Bacall brings up an across the card double for Flavin

Darragh won on him in Roscommon last year and he's just a very good jockey especially on horses like him that need just holding together. Delighted he jumped well and travelled well. That's his first win over fences at 14, so it is great that he got it. My horses hadn't been running great during the winter, but Clarens just won in Tramore and I had a horse run earlier just fell at the third last (Party Pack in Down Royal) when he was going well, so I knew they were all running well. I was more confident then. He's a good-ground horse so hopefully he's okay in the morning. Darragh said he gave him a lovely feel for a 14-year-old. It is a big jumping test around here, he warmed into it and Darragh said he was brilliant everywhere.