Busselton uses every yard to get home

All Class lands another gamble

I was delighted with that. That's her second run for me, her first was at Gowran Park and a lot of people thought it was very disappointing but I hadn't killed her with work because she had bled in Cork. I thought she did everything right in Gowran, she travelled into the race nicely but got a bit tired. We thought she might have run a bit better but I was happy enough. I haven't killed her with work at home, just trying to keep her fresh, as we're only learning the ropes with her. She can be a wee bit tricky at home. We did a nice bit of work last Tuesday and came here fairly confident. If she translated her hurdles form she had 10lb up her sleeve, if she was good over a fence. She looked nice today but in her beginners chases she was landing on top of fences and putting holes in fences. She fell on her handicap debut over fences. It was just about getting around today and seeing where we were at. She did it really well but I wouldn't read too much into that race as it was a complete farce. The 13-year-old went off and we were probably lucky enough she went with him. If we hadn't gone with him we might have been in trouble. Donagh (Meyler) was on the ball and followed him while the rest of them were maybe asleep and let them go. I wouldn't read too much into that and I hope the handicapper isn't too hard on her.

Ben Siegel professional on hurdling debut

That was great. The fellas that own him have been lucky with the few they had with us, him and Jeff Kidder and Too Bright. Hopefully they stay lucky. He's a nice horse, he probably wants goodish ground. From the time we started schooling him all he wanted to do was jump so that's a big help and he stays well. I'd say you won't see him again until Christmas, that'll be the plan. The other lad (Lunar Power who was runner-up in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Navan on Sunday) will run on Saturday (in a rated novice hurdle at Fairyhouse) and we'll see how that goes. The two of them are similar as they stay well and need goodish ground.

Grand Jury makes a winning start over hurdles

I A Connect hangs on in a thrilling finish

He (Heskin) was lucky he held on, he was nearly caught napping. He said when the horse came he actually picked up again but he nearly went by him that quick that is was all over, he was coming at him fast. He probably wants further and it's nice to win. He'll be better over two-and-a-half miles.

Freedom To Dream back with a bang

On his bumper form he's a nice horse. I'm delighted for Paul (Leech), in fairness he comes over whenever all his horses run and had a first and a second today so it's great. He got a small injury which came to light in March 2020. He had run at Christmas time behind Appreciate It but then got that small injury in front. We just gave him loads of time. He's been away and had a schooling race under his belt but is open to an awful lot of improvement. He'll go on softer ground and we can up him in trip as well. This Red Mills series is a great series and Paul actually won the final last year with Surprise Package. Hopefully this lad could end up in the final. He's a gorgeous horse. He was bought completely by mistake at the sales, I was rushing in to buy a horse later on and ended up bidding on him. In fairness when I rang Paul about the horse he took him straight away. Hopefully he's lucky for him now and we'll kick on, he's a nice horse to have for the winter.

Betterask Jj dominant in Punchestown

Robindevidastar up and running for Rothwell

I'm delighted, it's the horse's first run for me. I said to Mr and Mrs Shanahan this morning that I fancied him and that I thought he'd run a big race. I would have been disappointed if he wasn't in the first three. It's nice when you voice a bit of confidence, and you've never given him a gallop on grass yourself, it's great that it worked out. He was 30/1 this morning and and of my friends that rang me this morning I told them he had a good each-way shout. Usually I'd always be saying to James to hang on to them but today I said to him if he was travelling anyway well to kick on early on this lad as he stays going. I don't know that he'd want it very heavy, that was probably yielding out there and it was grand. He'll go on a little bit softer. It was a good start.