Archaeology wins Navan's opener for Murtagh & Qatar Racing

he was probably one of his nicer two-year-olds but just took a little bit of time to come, mentally more than anything else. Physically he's always been fine, he's a big horse and has shown plenty of speed. He's just getting it together now, as you can see he sweats up a bit. Shane said he was a bit unlucky the last day but he got it all together today and battled on well which was very pleasing. He's got plenty of ability, hopefully he'll go forward from this and we might look at the Birdcatcher if he could get into it down the bottom. I'm very happy to reach 30 for the year - it's a good achievement, and it's another two-year-old winner which is good. We've had a quiet run for Sheikh Fahad this year so it's great to get a winner on the board.

Lynam's filly gains valuable maiden success

it's good to get and they're lucky colours (Clipper Logistics Group Ltd) for us; we had a very good filly a few years ago, Agnes Stewart, who ran in those colours. This one is a half-sister to Fort Del Oro so it's job done now and I'd say she can go to the breeding shed after that. It's nice that we finally got to win; we always thought that we'd win a maiden with her but didn't think it'd take until September 29th 2056 or whatever it is! We got there in the end.

'Heavy investment' paying off as dashing Douglas leads home 1-2 for Cotter

it's a great result. We thought coming here that the only dangers to Polly or Dash were each other!. They worked exceptionally well last Wednesday and our camp was divided and I was in the Dash camp as I thought she had too much pace for Polly but here at Navan she's a course and distance winner and she ground it out. The other lads at home had Polly backed and they've all done the forecast so they're all happy out.

Nikeandnemesis gains second nursery success

she doesn't help him early on and he gave her a lovely ride because I told him to make sure and pull her out and give her clear light. I thought the last day she didn't go forward in behind horses and he learned from the last day. I'm delighted for Nathan too because he works hard and he gave her a great ride, exactly what I asked him to do. it's great for the lads; they leased her for the year and hopefully they'll stay in her for next year now. There is a good nursery in Leopardstown over seven (furlongs, October 27th) and we might go for that.

Liberty Lass overcomes layoff for maiden success

she's been a filly that we've always thought plenty of and we ran her first time last year in a very hot maiden at Leopardstown on Champion Weekend and she ran well that day, when she needed the run. We were running out of time then and ran her in a Listed race but I probably jumped the gun a bit putting her into that, and she got injured in that race. It's just taken a bit of time to get her back right but hopefully she's a filly with a future. She won that nicely. She's come back from an injury, so today was the most important day so far and I have no idea what the program book has for her or anything like that. We were still even guessing trip-wise where she was and I'd say in time she could even get a bit further.

Cool Kirrane 'counts to 20' as he steers Levins' late winner

all credit to Sean; he was drawn 18 and we discussed the race in length, about how to ride him, and he's given him a copybook ride, exactly how we'd discussed it. I told him when he turned into the straight, because he was drawn 18, that he'd have to come from the back. They generally go a bit quick here with the long hill so I told him to count to 10: I think he counted to 20 and almost gave me a heart-attack. It was unbelievable ride from a relatively inexperienced jockey. He's a jockey that I'll keep on the right side of and there'll be plenty more winners to come from him when he starts improving, which he is showing at the moment. I'm absolutely thrilled for David Spratt, who has been a loyal owner with me. We've had a lot of success in a short period of time. He's a gentleman. I also have to mention John Dillon, who actually works for Patrick Prendergast; he's only led up two horses for me and both have won so I might be offering him a job soon!

Apprentice Crosse completes Navan double

we thought she ran well at Laytown, as she was in the wrong race but we wanted to run on the strand at our local track. She ran over seven (furlongs) there as a 90-rated horse won it, and she was six or seven lengths back. The third horse came out and won at Dundalk last week. With a bit of luck in-running today I thought we'd be fairly close and I was delighted with that. We had a few quid on and it'll pay for the diesel on the way home!. I'm delighted for young Nathan as that's his first double today. He never rode for us before, so it's great, and we've been lucky with the apprentices. We'll go to Dundalk or something like that. It's hard to get in there but now that she's won we can pick and choose and a little bit better.

Red Cadeaux's sister routs opposition in Navan's finale