Going - Hurdle/bumper: good to yielding. Chase: yielding, yielding to soft in places. Overcast with rain
Jackpot Pool - 3,066.79 Dividend - 159.50 Winning Units - 13.47. Placepot Pool - 38,099.69 Dividend - 3.50 Winning Units - 7524.56. Days Aggregate - 231,662.40 Last Year 219,437.61
Amen Kate gives Cooper some Galway compensation
Sam said they hacked around and that she showed some gears from the back of the last. She has loads of boot and I’d say she is only coming to herself, as she was only in six weeks before Listowel. She has so many gears and is back to where she was. She had a big procedure done removing an abscess under a tooth in July so was in hospital for a full month. It had been niggling at her all last year but is sorted now. We’ll probably look for a graded race now.
Oscars in command for the King Brothers
He had had a break before Listowel so we rode him to run well then, and he had a lovely run. We were confident that he'd improve today, we kept it simple and it worked out great. He jumped very well and the last was his worst jump, which might have cost him a length or so. We were confident the track would suit him and he stayed well up the hill. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet as he is better suited by stepping back up to three miles on slower ground. . We were hoping he'd win today and then go for the Florida Pearl Chase (Punchestown), so I suppose we'll know where we stand with him then. On paper, it was an ok race today so you'd like to think he could make the step up in grade. I have this horse and Grey Jude in training and also work for Paddy Twomey. I'm under no illusions regarding training and have two nice horses now who I will concentrate on, but hopefully I can get bigger as a trainer in a few years. I'm learning a lot in Paddy's and he had a French Group 3 winner earlier today so things are going well for him.
McNamara & O'Brien a winning combination again
We felt he was in really, really great shape today and he was fit as a flea. Patrick gave him a really confident ride and it was a good performance. My son Conor had been very impressed with Patrick all along, he has always been a fan and has been plugging for me to give him rides. He rides really well and is great value for his 5lb claim. We'll try and follow up in something similar in a few weeks time and he can mix and match between hurdles and fences.
Millforce wins Galway feature for Cromwell & Staples
Queally completes across-the-card double
it is hard to say what would have happened but if I had to ride the race again, I don’t think I’d have jumped off where I did (in second place). I got a horrid spin off him, so would have been better off jumping off last, but you live and learn and I’ve learned an awful lot about him. You think you know all about them when riding them out at home but I suppose he was a big baby and is waking up. He got away with it today but jumping off handy again wouldn’t be a good idea. Being a one-trick pony is grand when you are making the running, but I was in the wrong position today and I think there’ll be a better performance in him as he was so free the whole way. The next day we’ll either pop out (and lead) or drop in and I wouldn’t rule out going to Navan in three weeks for the Monksfield Novice next.
Doctor Steinberg makes winning debut over hurdles
Red Glory another for Paddy O'Brien at Galway
Dempsey's debutant wins under Williamson
Maybe Josh had his stick in the wrong hand but he'll learn from that and we're delighted. William Flood (owner/breeder) is a great man with a passion for the game and is a great supporter. He stands the stallion and we had the mare, who won a bumper and was Listed-placed, and this is her first foal. William was responsible for bringing in the mares' series of races and Caravation (today's winning dam) won three of them with a bumper, maiden hurdle and chase. The pedigree goes back a long, long way and the dam is a sister to Niche Market who won an Irish National. Knowing William he'd like to get blacktype with her, and she is a filly who you mightn't be in any great rush with either.