Going - Good, Good to Yielding in places. Dry and bright
Jackpot Pool - €938.35 Dividend - €600.60 Winning Units - 1.1. Placepot Pool - €29,549.69 Dividend - €40.30 Winning Units - 512.13. Days Aggregate - €164,232.80 Last Year
Toad Hall off the mark for Mullins
It is not before his time to win. It has just been niggles here and there, nothing major, but that's the way with horses. I think this fella will have one more run over hurdles possibly, and then in the new season head over fences. He looks a fine chasing-type.
Seskin Flash one for the cameras in the north
He had a nice run in Naas and I'd say he built on it over the extra trip. The hood went on and, watching it down, I'll probably leave it off now. It just took him a while to get into the bridle. He can be free at home and that. We might run him again Thursday in Naas because he will probably get a hike for that. We'll see how he is.
A Mere Bagatelle boosts Hanlon ahead of Aintree
I thought Paddy was very good on him. When they were all thinking about it at the start, Paddy stole three or four lengths and that was the difference in winning and losing. The horse wants two and a-half miles, and that was over two miles one and a-half. I was just afraid that he might get outpaced, but Paddy made it a good staying test the whole way. I'm delighted for Alan Cullen who is away on holidays at the moment. He rang me last night and told me his wallet was after being stolen. I said you better get money for tomorrow! I've no doubt he had a few quid on him. The uphill finish suited him because it was only two mile one and a-half. He galloped the whole way to the top. I thought Paddy was very confident on him the whole way. Next Saturday (Hewick in the Grand National at Aintree) is not that far away and to have a winner today coming into the week is a big help.
Long trek to Downpatrick for Lilian Bland pays off
Some trek! It took us five hours. Richard Pugh said we left first and then we declared her!. I said knowing my luck, this will be the track she will like and I'll be up and down for the summer!. She is holding her form brilliantly through the year on heavy ground and quick ground. Richie gets on brilliantly with her. She is tough, tough, tough. At home she is the same way, you couldn't give her enough work. She would be out in the field kicking and bucking away to go again. It is a small operation. Normally what we do is buy two foals every year and bring them through. If we don't sell them as three-year-olds, we try and point-to-point them and sell them. I work full-time as an electrician and I farm as well at home. Come home from work then do the horses and then go farming.
Dunboyne the Ulster National hero for Donoghue and Smith
Keith hit the front (on Final Orders), but I knew he'd battle back. Going out on the last lap, I was very confident. It was a long way to go, but his ears were pricked, he was happy and popping away. We have bought plenty of cheap ones and low-grade ones, and a change of scenery has improved them. With a horse with a bit of ability, it is actually easy because you don't have to train them hard. He's not fully pipe-drilled there. He's a happy, fresh horse. Ross (Donoghue) can take all the credit really - we call him the Head Lad, he is the boss. I was away last week on holidays with the kids and he trotted him around the roads and messed about with him. He actually went to the Curragh the other day to lead Lisnamult Lad over the National fences. I was thinking was this a good or a bad idea as it might scare him . He was deadly and jumped two of them and Ross got off him and gave him a roll and picked grass in the Curragh. We didn't even gallop him. I was itching to give him a blow and it is hard not to do it. We just took a chance and left him as fresh as we could and it worked thank God. James comes into us plenty and is best friends with Ross, the two of them get into plenty of trouble together! In my eyes, bar Danny Gilligan, he is the best conditional in the country. He has such a good brain and he doesn't panic. I have to thank Stephen O'Connor the owner. I've been at him a while to send me this horse. At least he did and it has worked out thank God.
Donoghue at double on Ballysax Hank
Good to get that after hitting the crossbar in the National. He jumped well and liked that nicer ground. We might find a handicap somewhere.
Sharpe rides first track winner in incident-packed finale
Paddy (Mullins) got a great spin (on Cause For Comment) and I thought he was going to win turning in. Loose horse didn't help him the whole way, but that was only his third run over fences and he is going to be a lovely horse next year when he's with a proper trainer!. I thought that horse (Asphalt Cowboy) might run well, he'd love it around here. He's an oul rogue but he has been a brilliant horse for us. We bought him last year and that is his third win for us. We bought him for Michael to ride. He works for me and has been with me since he was 12. He's a brilliant little rider. He came to the yard one day and never left! When he goes somewhere proper next year, he will fly. The saddle went on him jumping the second-last and he stayed with him. He'd be used to hanging onto things in my place! He was brilliant on him and gets on great with that horse.
