Going - Good To Yielding (Yielding after 4th race). Overcast
Jackpot Pool - €3,546.17 Dividend - €2,482.30 Winning Units - 1. Placepot Pool - €25,187.78 Dividend - €855.00 Winning Units - 20.62. Pick Six Pool - €830.51 Not Won. Carried forward to Wexford on Friday 5th April. Days Aggregate - €158,294.00 Last Year
'Long year ahead' planned for Leopardstown's opening winner
it was a nice performance and she did what we expected. They went a nice pace but then steadied, she was in the box seat and quickened nicely. We're in no hurry with her as hopefully it will be a long year. She'll probably go for the Blue Wind Stakes next. She was only getting going at the line and is from a good staying family on the dam's side. When they steadied she got caught for a bit of pace but she quickened well and at the line she was impressive.
Weld & Hayes combine for fourth consecutive winner
it was a pleasing performance from a very nice colt. We'll look for a Listed race for him now over a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half. He was working nicely and got a good confident ride from Chris. He's a horse that I think should make a stakes horse.
Latchet secures second career win for in-form Bolger
she's (Latchet) been a school mistress for four apprentices and her record isn't too bad. Hopefully she can do a bit more before it's all over. She might be able to go a bit further and that will open up more opportunities.
Orr bags first Stakes win as Weld completes treble
he's a very consistent stakes horse and he'll head on for a Group race now. The Gladness is a possibility for him, providing it doesn't come too soon. It's a long year ahead please God. Every drop of rain helped him as he's a big horse and he likes a good dig. He can step all the way up into a Group horse without any problems.
'Like old times' for Weld as he completes Leopardstown four-timer
it's been a great evening, a lovely four-timer, it's like old times!. I've had a couple of five timers here but four-timers are always appreciated as things are a bit tougher nowadays. he (Orr) gave her a lovely ride. It was in someways a messy race but he took his time, got a nice run through, and she did it well. I'd say another furlong would be well within her compass. I would expect to be able to get some black-type with her during the year. I thought she quickened up very nicely. They were all very well ridden, both jockeys (Chris Hayes and Oisin Orr) rode very very well.
'Strengthened-up' Superman returns
we thought a lot of this horse last year and he was second first time out at the Curragh. He raced a little over enthusiastic second time out at Naas, we put a line through that, and on his third run he'd just gone a little bit weak on us. We just put him away, he wintered well and strengthened up well. I thought that was good performance, carrying top weight and from that draw. He wasn't the quickest away but Leigh kept him out wide on the fresh ground down the back and at the apex of the bend was able to slot in in front and set his own fractions. He won well and he said he was just idling in front. I'm delighted with him and delighted that he's come good because we did think he was a nice horse last year. Hopefully he can progress well. He got a fancy entry on Saturday but I think we'll probably treat him like a nice horse now and we won't rush him back. We'll pick out a race for him a few weeks time. We'll see what the handicapper does and go from there.
Atlas wins Leopardstown's finale
he's a tricky old horse and his stats show that. I was a little bit worried about the ground going out as the rain is getting into it a bit. He's a top of the ground horse but he did it well at the finish. He's a very capable horse but he just needs things to fall right. He usually needs a couple of horses in front of him to falter. Today they didn't stop but he was just on song and everything happened right.
