Going - Good to Yielding. Overcast
Rocky's Howya lands hat-trick of Claiming wins
I thought he'd run well going to Wexford the last day when he was in against nice novices, but it is just funny the way the 'levels' work. He was rated nicely for that Wexford race but couldn't compete and was dropping back down today. A big effort goes in at home in keeping him right, he goes swimming and has been kept sweet. He is hard to place as he is old and rated high enough, but there are a couple of races coming up for him.
Minella proves just Diamond for Lanigan and Mullins
He is a nice horse who had previously won a bumper. He had little niggly issues but is back on track now. Onwards and upwards now although he won't run on rock-hard ground. Danny is very lucky for us and his owner (Christopher Neville ) is a businessman from Roscrea.
Patience rewarded as Hob's Angel belatedly opens account
Dan King was very good on her the last day, as she had been doing too much in her races, and afterwards said she was now ready to ridden amongst other horses. We were lucky to get Josh (Williamson) today, who is a chip off the old block. We bought this mare two years ago and Harry Willams, from New Ross, comes here quite often and part-owns this mare, so it is great for him.
Mullins doubles up at Clonmel aboard Loi Des Jeux
He had a problem with a tooth years ago and hanging left seems to be a mental thing with him since. He was initially going point-to-pointing but was jumping left, and it is all in his head. His owner Darragh McDonagh is best friends with Dom Murphy who owns our Sunday winner Humble Brag and has Heads Up (Cheltenham runner-up) in training with John McConnell. Darragh didn't sell him at the sales, where I was mad about the horse, so thankfully he dropped him down to us and is the first horse he has had with us. He has shown patience with the horse and had a few quid on today, which was great. I wasn't worried about the opposition but was worried about the ground. If the ground is safe, he could go to Limerick in two weeks and if he were to win there, he could get into Galway but either way, he'll be a nice horse next winter. My dad is doing the hard work home milking the cows and it is great to follow up Sunday's win. We have mainly point-to-pointers at the moment but have recently got more to train for the racecourse.
Colleen Danu overcomes error to lead home Foley 1-2
She was 8lb higher today than when winning this race last year but had the benefit of having had a run under her belt this time. Her Limerick run was on unsuitable ground but that stood to her. That's her third win for me and she is a sister to Absolute Notions, so the local syndicate will breed from her eventually. She could go for a summer chase now, as she is great to jump fences.
Jet flies in under O'Keeffe
She is very hard on herself, she pulls hard but has kept improving. At home, we knew she had improved and while we were concerned about the ground, in fairness to Paddy (McDonald, owner from nearby Barntown, Wexford), he kept her in and kept her going. She can stay in novice races now for the whole season and she is going home tomorrow for the summer, so hopefully will come back a stronger mare.
