King rules supreme in Fairyhouse opener

Eagles swoops for claiming success

She’s just been an unlucky filly really. She’s a drop in sprinter and she always seems to find trouble,. Everything went well today and the splits came when they should have. We were going to run her in the handicap but I didn’t want her finding trouble on the way round so when there were a handful of runners in this we said we’d have a crack at it. She should have won twice last season, she’s been unlucky all the way through, so it’s nice to get head in front. If she’s not claimed she could come back up here, there are races here for her every week for the next three weeks.

Rutledge rides out 3lb claim at Fairyhouse

We’re delighted, she’s a right little filly and is after winning three now. She has just improved because last year you wouldn’t have thought she was any superstar. She obviously handled Dundalk well, and won two up there, and has got better into the spring. She has a lovely pedigree, her dam won six, and she’s a half-sister to Four Blondes, who won a maiden. We probably bought her on the back of Four Blondes and, ironically, she’s now won more than her. She’s been ultra consistent and Siobhan gets a great tune out of her. She hit the line well in Naas the last day, over five, and we thought stepping up to six, and keeping her in her own age group, would suit. She’s going to be a good fun filly. I’m delighted for John Bowden. We’ll try and keep her in her own age bracket as long as we can, because it gets a bit harder with the older horses. I’m delighted for Siobhan to ride out her claim. Obviously she’s going out with my assistant Tom Harney. She’s an absolute smasher, she works really hard. She learned a lot in Australia, she was there for a year. The one thing she always said she wanted to do was to come back and ride out her claim and she did. They are back since January. She is freelancing and is a natural lightweight. She seems to get on great with this filly and rides a few for us. She’s basing herself on the Curragh and trying to get around a bit. It’s very hard in Ireland when you are

Ryan weaves In Or Out on Maxwell's winner

That was good. They went good and hard and she was able to pick up the pieces. She’s won here before on slower ground, and I was a bit worried that she might be caught for pace. She was a bit slow away and she came through them. Over six furlongs around here they always go quick, lads trying to get a possy. It fell her way, she got a lovely run up the inner and got there in time. We’ve nothing really planned out for her. She was on 60 there and had a lot of weight to carry. We’ll see what the handicapper does now, and then see where we go for the summer.

Fortuity off the mark for Harrington & Foley

She had a nice first run. Shane was nice and positive on her, and I’d say that was important. When she got to the front, she was game. She has a nice pedigree, she’s a half-sister to Phoenix Of Spain. She’s shown a level of ability and it was important to get her to win. Her owner Michael Drapac was actually over from Australia at the weekend and he had Punica Granatum beaten a short-head at the Curragh, so it’s nice to get her to win. We’ll regroup and see what the handicapper does. She’s improved off her first run, and maybe there is a little bit more in there.

First win on turf for Flynn's Moyassr

The last day (fifth at Leopardstown) he ran well enough from a bad draw. . I always thought this trip would suit him, but he still had to prove that. It’s nearly a mile-and-three in Dundalk and I think that was a bit far, this is an easier mile-and-two. I think it suited him perfectly and he relaxed better, which was something he wasn’t doing. We went down to the start to help that and he stayed relaxed throughout. I’ll always make them a bit slower anyway, so he probably will stay!. He’s well handicapped, in theory, but has taken a while to prove it.

Guardian Of Realm makes all to shed the maiden tag

We knew that was in her locker, just things had to go right. She’s a little bit headstrong and I said to Colin going out ‘if I was riding her I’d settle her from the front, but I’m not saying she’ll let you’. We knew she had that ability so that’s nice. That’s a box ticked, winning her maiden, and I’ll talk to Barry Mahon (Juddmonte racing manager) now and see where we go.