Mullins newcomer wins Downpatrick’s opener for Nationals' sponsor

Reappearance win for well-backed Cozone

Cozone hadn't run in a year and had kind of lost his form. He's hit and miss, but had a good break and was in good form lately. We knew he was fit, he ran in a schooling race there recently and went well. We'll keep tipping away with him. I have 14 or 15 in training for the summer and we'll have a few ready to run in the next three or four weeks.

German Derby also-ran lands Downpatrick gamble

I suppose the ground has been against him over hurdles, he was keen and took a few runs to get going and just settle. I think he was getting his tongue over the bit, so it wasn't the case that he was nervous and I had the tongue-tie on him but he has no wind problems. I know this track well and had a good mare, Hidden Land, who was keen and here suits those type of horses. You can let them roll and they get a breather up the hill. Hopefully, he will show his potential as he had good form in Germany and actually finished seventh in a German Derby (of 20 runners in 2023). He is just a work in progress and, on better ground he can mix it between Flat and hurdles. He had run in a couple of schooling races and we were hoping that the track and better ground could bring out improvement. Donagh gave him a lovely ride and it worked out. Hopefully, he can be a nice horse who can progress and he could be competitive in some of those nice (Flat) handicaps, so we could bring to England. We wanted to get that winner on the board because we weren't busy last winter.

Nicer ground helps Better Times

going up in trip and that better ground is what he wanted. It was holding ground in Leopardstown the last day, which he doesn't like, and I'd say he would probably go on better ground again. That trip (2m6f) give us options now and he has just taken a while to learn to settle before his races. He is A1 once he is going, but used to run his race before he ran. He is doing everything well now. We'll get him home, see how he is and we'll make a plan from there. His owners (Sandra and Peter McCarthy) picked this race out, so deserve the credit.

Born Braver conquers for Cromwell in Ulster National

Chasing debutante Littlefoot takes fences in his stride

Carey completes first double, in Downpatrick's finale

that is brilliant, I’m delighted and the owners and whole (Mullins) family have been very good to me. I think Cause For Comment is a better horse this year as he was only five last year and has improved a lot. Today was a good race for a maiden hunters chase, so it is great. He was idle in front but had a good man on his back. I leave plans to the jockey, he picks those.