Macdermott struck a potentially decisive blow for Willie Mullins in the jumps trainers’ championship race by securing a thrilling success in the Coral Scottish Grand National.
White Birch got his season off to a successful start when finishing strongly to land the featured Group 3 Tote.ie Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.
Chemistry landed the odds in the Visit Irish National Stud And Gardens Irish EBF Maiden under a no nonsense front-running ride by Ryan Moore at the Curragh.
State Actor benefitted from a well-judged ride by Chris Hayes to take the Tote Now Online At Tote.ie Maiden at odds of 15/2 in the Curragh.
The father and son team of Ger and Colin Keane teamed up to take the Hytech EQ Ultra Handicap with topweight Crystal Black at the Curragh.
Not a single faller in the Grand National has to be seen as a major triumph for those involved in tweaking with the great race to make it palatable for a modern audience.
It is now little more than a distant relation to the race I was weaned on, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Grand National has always been the primary shop window for the sport and nowadays that requires a sanitised version where dead horses are simply unacceptable.
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from Monasterevin, Co Kildare and I'm riding since I could walk really. My grandad used to have a few of his own horses. None of my family would really be into racing, but I got into riding ponies. Then, when I was about 11 or 12, I started pony racing which is a great place to start. It gives you loads of experience of race riding and gets your brain set up for the track. My cousin Aidan Melia supplied me with more than 20 winners pony racing. He was very good to me and got me going. I was all over the country pony racing up to Donegal and down to Kerry and sometimes over to Scotland as well. When I was about 11, I was in with trainer Seamus Fahey and he was very good to me. He got me going riding racehorses and gave me loads of experience riding work. I was always small when I was young and everyone used to tell me I should be a jockey. Thank God I stayed that way and my weight is good. I wouldn't wake up more than eight stone every morning. Hopefully, things stay like that.
Paddy Twomey recounts his remarkable training journey
Top trainer Paddy Twomey tells us about how he got started in the training ranks and became one of Ireland's leading horse racing trainers
By Gary Carson - GREENLAND kept good company in France last season, winning a Group 3 and running with credit in a couple of Arc trials. The Saxon Warrior colt was a game winner in very soft ground at Saint-Cloud before finishing fourth behind subsequent Arc winner Ace Impact in a Group 2 at Deauville. He has to carry a penalty at this level now but his form is very strong. Maxux was impressive on her final outing last season when taking a Group 3 contest at Fairyhouse. She is still unexposed and could improve again this season. Last year's Derby third White Birch is top rated in the field off a mark of 112 and has to be respected on his return. He missed time after a below par effort in the Irish Derby last season but ran much better on his final outing at this level on Irish Champions Weekend.
