Going - Hurdle - Soft Chase - Yielding to Soft, yielding places (Soft after race 3). Overcast and showery
Dancing City beats better fancied stablemate in Grade 1 Novice Hurdle
The plan was to jump out and make it,. When you are riding for Willie if something happens and you need to adjust to improve your chances of winning, you do that and more often than not(it works). I think I might have been the outsider of the field and he pops up and wins a Grade 1.
Kargese gives Danny Mullins Grade 1 double at Leopardstown
A big part of that(success) is riding for the team I am. Again, there, Plan A was to make the running but that was out the window by the time I got around the first bend. I'd say Willie was watching me coming across the top wondering was the alarm clock going to go off!
Il Etait Temps brings up DRF Grade 1 hat-trick for Danny Mullins
Maxxum defies topweight to win Listed handicap under Carl Millar
It's special to get a winner today. Jumped off handy and sat second, I was always in a lovely rhythm throughout the race. Gordon had good trust in me and told me to keep it simple. Carl is a good lad. He's well able to ride and just needs to tidy himself up a little bit now, get on the simulator. He's a good lad and works hard. Maxxum is a bit hot and cold and I thought the ground might have gone a bit soft for him. When you are in these handicaps you never know. We said we'd keep it simple, pop him out handy and see what happens.
Galopin Des Champs shows his class in Irish Gold Cup win
It was a terrific performance. He did it the hard way, out in front and jumped from fence to fence. He didn't wait around for anyone and did everything right. Paul was very happy with him. He set his own pace which is hard to do on soft ground. Paul made sure that he was going to go fast enough and try and suck the energy out of the ones behind, which he did. We thought Conflated might make the running but from the early stages we knew that wasn't the way. Paul just had to grab the race by the horns, he did and it worked out. I thought for a minute from the fifth last to the third last that JJ Slevin's body language was looking very good and he was confident in the horse he was riding. When Paul poured a little bit on and got a great jump at the second last you could see the distress signals coming out and Paul was still happy. He was able to dictate in front. Gold Cups are always important and it's nice to win another one for Greg and Audrey (Turley). It's tremendous prize-money and a tremendous day here in Leopardstown. Some people think it's a trial for Cheltenham but for me it's a race in it's own right. They need to be respected and raced for. I bring my best horses here to do that. I thought I'd never have a horse good enough to run in the race, never mind win it different years but that's the way the thing has grown and we're very lucky.
Rare British raider Madara strikes for visitors at the Dublin Racing Festival
He's a fantastic horse and I'm so happy. My son Ed and my husband Christian do all the race planning and this fitted timing-wise. We are used to travelling as we have more runners in France than we do in England. It looked like a really nice opportunity and Bryan (Drew) and all the lads involved were really keen to come over and have a go. We're a very small yard and the team at home work tirelessly so thank-you to them. We're delighted. We're staying for the racing tomorrow so it'll be a good old night tonight!. We've had runners at Punchestown before and love coming over here.
Jeroboam Machin advertises Cheltenham claims in bumper
He's a nice horse and he definitely saves his best for the track. Watching him working the last few weeks wouldn't inspire anyone. I said after his first bumper that he doesn't show much at home but anytime we bring him away he lights up. I don't mind what he does at home once he saves his best for the track.