Shewearsitwell takes step up in class in her stride

It was a good performance and she's improving all the time. She's a sharp little jumper and that was a huge benefit to her in this contest, stepping up in grade. At least I know now that she's competitive over the minimum trip, so I wouldn't be afraid to keep her at that trip. I'll have a word with Paul though because he said she was probably going as fast as she was able to, so when the better hurdlers come out it might be difficult. So far, so good. We're very happy for Closutton Racing Club as it's their first graded winner. It's good to have a nice mare for them. We'll try and keep her to mares’ company and she'll have to go up in grade now. The dream would be to be good enough to run in the Royal Bond. She's good enough to run in it now anyway and that will be in the back of our minds. We might try and find something between now and then for her. Timewise Down Royal could be a possibility for her.

Saint Roi fires Mullins to Tipperary double

I'm very happy with that. The race conditions suited him very well and it was a big advantage. Noel's horse (Beacon Edge) coming out was a help as well and we'll take all the help we can take at this stage of the season!. He did it nicely but he had a big advantage with the conditions of the race. Mark (Walsh) said he was meeting the last wrong and fiddled it. I think he got a bit tight for room over the third last. I was worried that he was coming off the bridle but Mark said he was just tight for room. Otherwise he was very slick with his jumping and I'm not worried on that front. That's the type of speed he shows all the time at home and his last piece of work before Cheltenham was electric. I thought going there he'd take a lot of beating. The likes of the County Hurdle are hard races to fancy horses in though. He did very well during the summer and is out early purely because this race suited conditions wise. The Morgiana would be on the agenda but that might be throwing him in at the deep end. He's a second season novice and there might be easier options. I think there is a race at Down Royal for second season novices (Grade 2 WKD Hurdle).

Humaniste swoops late to score

Sweet Sting a welcome winner for Bowe

She's an exceptional little mare, a great stayer,. I was a little afraid of the ground, it's lively enough out there and she needs it softer. She got away with it. We'll try and find another handicap for her and hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on her as she's not really built to carry weight but her determination got her through today. If she turns out as good as her mother (Sweet Kiln) I won't complain. Brian (Hayes) rode a tremendous race on her and judged it to perfection. She likes sitting off the pace as she panics when there are horses behind her, so you just have to drop her out. It took us a while to find that out about her. Maybe in time she'll learn to settle in front but at the minute we have to drop her out in her races. It's about time I trained a winner, at one stage I thought I'd never train another winner!. I'm relieved as I thought there was some curse on me. Hopefully there are more to come. I'll have a glass of wine when I go home and celebrate in style.

Daisy's Hollow scores for Duffy and Brett

Russell back in number one spot with Galvin

Party Central has the right moves on debut