Going - Good, good to yielding in places CHANGED to Good at 3.15pm.. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 5,018.00 Dividend - 1,756.30 Winning Units - 2. Placepot Pool - 26,234.46 Dividend - 24.70 Winning Units - 742.52. Pick Six Pool - 34,676.78
True Valour shows his strength in Limerick
He'd a little issue last year, something small and we just gave him the time off but I'm very happy with him. He was always going to be a very nice three-year-old for a maiden. Colin was happy with him and he said he settled well and quickened up well. He did what he had to do on ratings. We'll have a look at the Tetrarch Stakes next week - it might be a bit too soon for him but if he comes out of this race well, we might let him take his chance and see how good he is.
Red-hot Keane guides Mollie The Moo home
I'm delighted with that. Like a couple of ours, they have been going to the races a little bit fresh and she wears a hood for a reason and her first race she had a stage-fright. She made the running with another horse on her girths and didn't get home on that ground (heavy). It suited going quick today and basically she has done what we thought she'd do from her homework. She doesn't want heavy or quick ground but the ground is proper good ground today. I'm delighted for Tony and Roger O'Callaghan as they are great supporters of the yard and everything they send our way, seems to work. She'll look for black type next - it's very important for these fillies.
Patience pays off for Foley and Surrounding
She's very green especially for one of ours and she's quite an active filly at home so we wouldn't be galloping her that much. She'll learn at the track as she goes along. That's a lovely stepping stone from Dundalk. Hopefully she'll progress into a nice little handicapper throughout the season. She did well and he (Shane Foley) had to sit and suffer and wait for gaps to open. She came on nicely from her first run and is a lovely big filly. She took plenty of time and we're lucky to have such patient owners - they gave us the time with her and their patience has paid off. She's a half-sister to Rummaging, who was a good servant for us and hopefully she'll do the same - we'll see what rating she receives now and go handicapping.
Foley earns praise for Shannon Soul ride
In fairness I had a willing partner. We've always loved him and he's only doing now what he should have been doing two years ago. There could be a good handicap in him during the season. That seems to be his thing now - he just seems to be slow to jump out but he's not slow about coming back and that's the important thing! It's his own plan but he warms up well. He's tough and genuine and Shane is riding terrific - if he gives one a better ride than that through the year, it'll be a good one. My horses are in good form and are nice and forward.
Back-to-back trebles landed by Keane
He's only had three runs for us. I'm sure he would be a lovely dual-purpose horse to go jumping with as well. Off that run I'd say he would have no problem getting further. I'd say nice ground with blinkers are a big key to him, to help him concentrate. You can draw a line through his run at Tipperary as the ground was very heavy and as they turned into the straight, there was a set of stalls on the inside of the track and ran off the track looking at them. He handled the ground today very well and will get further. He doesn't want extremes of ground and we'll have fun for the summer on proper nice ground, over that trip and further. David Spratt (owner) is a very good man at sourcing these horses and he has a share in him with his father-in-law George O'Riordan. It was George's first involvement in a racehorse but unfortunately he's gone to the Munster match today but he'll be delighted with the win.
Tilly's Chilli burns off the opposition
It's lovely for her to win and she had a nice run at Leopardstown. She was carrying enough weight today for a little filly but Colm was always going to get there. She'll get there and will win another handicap like that - she needs to go up to 1m4f and maybe run her in a better class race with a low weight.
O'Brien gets a tune out of Bay Hill
Dixie Highway takes best path in Limerick
His owner (Frank Terry) has been very patient with him and hopefully he'll be rewarded this year. Frank is a former school friend of mine from Rathgromack and is now based in New York.