Vafortino takes the opener at Leopardstown

He's improved from his first run. Shane said he was a bit keen early on but he stuck at it well. He's still babyish but he has a nice engine.

Masen justifies strong market support

He was very green and very raw but went through the gears the way we thought he would. He idled in front but that's what he does at home. It will be about keeping him relaxed now and hoping he steps forward from that first experience. You would expect him to as we have left a lot of work in him. He's a horse we like and the Tyros Stakes would be an obvious next start for him but he has to keep progressing and mentally has to keep coming with us as well. I think he'll learn plenty for the experience.

Atlas just denies Reverberation of a four-timer

Wilderness battles gamely to complete hat-trick

Elizabethofaragon blitzes her rivals on handicap debut

Tandem rolls back the years under Maguire

He ran a cracking race in Cork last Sunday and when the handicapper put him up a couple of pounds we said we might as well come here. He's probably the oldest horse running here today but he's an amazing horse and has a wonderful owner Mr Olivero from Italy who has had horses with me for years. The other reason I ran him is that he loves Leopardstown and won the Nasrullah Premier Handicap here twice. Six years ago he ran in Dubai and he's just a lovely horse to have. We retired him once but he's an example of a horse that loves being a racehorse. He loves life, he loves training in the morning and he loves racing. He's highly competitive at home so if we have something that can beat him you know they're good. He's rated 89 and is a hard horse to place so we'll have to see where we go.

Sarsfield impresses in Meld Stakes success

Declan said it was just a nice gallop but he travelled lovely and when the gap came he quickened up really well and did it like a good horse. He just has that one kick and then gallops but you have to hand it to him what he's done in his last three runs. He seems to have improved every time.

Bagenal defies hefty hike in Leopardstown finale

I only took out a licence last July and have nine in training, both for the Flat and over jumps, at Old Leighlin in Carlow. It was my fault I ran him in bumpers. He didn't stay but he's a fine big horse and clicked when we dropped him back to seven. I always said he'd be a fine horse when he filled out and it's taken him until now to get where he is.