Donoch delivers in Dundalk's opener

he was quite keen the last day but still ran well. He settled well today and has toughed it out in the end. He’s a pretty unexposed horse and hopefully there is more to come from him. He needed every yard of the mile and a half. He’s run in a point-to-point and I’m sure he’ll go up in trip again.

First winner for trainer Hussey

that’s my first winner. I’ve been training a while and took a break from it in 2015 until 2017. Thankfully this lad has obliged and it’s a big help. I train in Tyrrellspass with half a dozen horses in and gearing more towards the Flat but I take whatever I get. I have a small operation with my own gallop. I was a work rider for the late Cecil Ross and came to it through hunting and cross country. This horse is trip versatile. The step up in trip did the job lovely but he’ll probably win over a mile and two if he breaks a bit smarter. He seems to be improving with each run.

Group 1 winner lands Dundalk Claimer

I don’t think the Australians will be too happy with me running a Group 1 horse in a claiming race. He was very stale when we got him and we just tried to sweeten him up. We’ve done very little work with him. He had a nice run up here and we felt a pair of blinkers would sharpen him back up. He’s hosed up and won by seven lengths. He’s obviously rekindled some of his old form. I’ll be happy enough if I can get another couple of wins out of him if he’s not claimed.

Miss Sassyboots gets off the mark

she got a bit of a knock after Leopardstown and had to have a bit of time off. Her owner (Zoe Casbolt) took her home and did a good job in getting everything right again. She broke well and got a soft lead. Shane gave her a lovely ride and everything worked out grand. She had some form last year (over six furlongs) and we would have started her over seven on Monday but got balloted out. We got in here and said we’d chance it although I thought she’d need the run. Hopefully there will be another day in her.

All-weather win for well-bred Duquesa Beach

this is a very interesting filly and she’s back after a long break. I pushed her too hard too soon but she’s a big specimen and needed plenty of time. All the credit should go to Helen Barbour who does all the work with her at home. She’s a tricky one and Helen has done a great job with her and puts up with all her quirks. Dr David Adam is a big supporter of the yard and that’s his second winner in ten days for us. I’m over the moon. She’s very well-bred and the half-brother (by Exceed An Excel) just made 525,000Gbp at the breeze-ups. The mare has had three winners now. She’s bred by a good friend of mine Richie Auld, and a foal half-brother (also by Exceed An Excel) is going to the sales next week.

Messidor gains maiden win at third attempt

Bunyan adds Dundalk winner to new syndicate

he’s going into a club that we are forming and the details will probably be released next week. We’ll have a mix of yearlings from this year along with this horse and some older horses which I hope will be an exciting venture. he’s (Brokers Tip, who carried the colours of the trainer's brother Brian Bunyan) been knocking on the door and is entitled to that. It took him a little time to get over being gelded which set him back a bit. Hopefully he’ll get a bit of confidence from that and he’s a horse we believe has a bright future.

Ola Bonita gains deserved maiden win

it was a competitive race with a lot of them rated similarly. She won well and hopefully will progress again. Six furlongs is probably her trip. She saw that out well today so she might even stay seven. Andrew said he couldn’t pull her up after the line so we’re very happy with her.