Going - Good, good to firm in places. Overcast
River Tiber in full flow at the business end
I was very happy and very happy that we ran him. He hadn't been asked to do anything off the bridle at home, then he went to Navan and won very easily in soft ground so he probably doesn't know a lot. It was good strong pace today on good ground and before Ascot it's very important that they do that. Ryan had to catch a hold of him and make him get down and stretch, he would have learned an awful lot and he was very happy with him. We were delighted. I thought that he mightn't even come off the bridle as he shows loads at home. Ger's horse (Tourist) is obviously a good horse, he took him off the bridle. Ger's was second to one of ours here the last day and we liked him as well. He's a horse to look forward to. We thought he would be a Coventry horse. We have three Wootton Bassetts, it's the first time we've had them, and two of the colts are very good. It's unusual that two colts were good out of the three. He's always shown loads but very much always on the bridle doing his work but before you go to Ascot you have to take them off it and teach them. Hopefully that's the job done for him now.
Ladies Church leaves her rivals without a prayer
We think the world of this filly and brought to her Dubai during the winter as she likes fast ground,. She was second in a Group 2 first time out and I thought she had a real chance on World Cup night. It didn't happen for some reason, she got a bit of a bump out of the stalls. Ben said she was on the bridle but just didn't finish off. I think she was on the wrong side of the track as well. Since she's come home, her work has been good. It's hard for three-year-olds to compete in top sprints, she's four now and I was hoping she'd do something like that today. We're delighted and I think she deserves her place in the King's Stand. Even in her work, she works behind goes to the front and pulls up. I put the cheekpieces on today just to freshen her up and if she did get to the front it might help Ben. She probably didn't need them today, but it was something different to help her. Ben said she pulled up in front and as soon as Billy Lee came to her pulling up she went again. We think a lot of her and turned down a lot of money for her. It's hard to get Group 1 horses and we think we have one. Anyone who has ridden her work always thought she was a high-class filly and could be the real deal. It's a good start to the season, it's a big step up to the next level but five furlongs on fast ground at Ascot is made for her. She reminds me a little bit of Sole Power, she's very responsive. She's very relaxed in behind but if you sneeze on her she quickens up really well and does things
Porta Fortuna books her Royal Ascot ticket
We thought she was a nice filly, but obviously you never expect to win with a filly, that's had one run, in a group race. It's nice to see her handle the step up in class well. She has a really good pedigree, back along there are a lot of good horses in it. She was bought by some American partners, it's great for them and exciting. We'll speak to them now but there is probably a good chance she'll go to Ascot now. If she goes it will probably be for the Albany, she looked to get a stiff six furlongs here well. She handles all kinds of ground so I wouldn't be worried either way. We've had some maiden winners and it's nice to see that they are improving even though they are fairly ready early, that they are able to step up in class. That's a good sign.
Halford and Collins up and running with Cosmic Vega
Unless fires Moore and O'Brien to a treble
She's a nice filly, she'll probably go up in trip. She's a long time waiting to win, I'd say the Justifys need a little bit of time and you don't want to rush them. They are all starting to come now,. They are big horses and she is a big filly as well. The Sandringham could be an option and she will get further next year. She's definitely progressing, we'll try not to back her up too quick.
Fort Vega has plenty of options
I was a little bit worried, being a Lope De Vega, whether the ground would be a tad fast for him. We decided to let him take his chance because it was such a good race for him. I'll talk to John (Lavery, brother), I know where he'd like to go. They love having runners at Ascot and I'd say the Jersey could be an option. John is in Portugal, so I'll talk to him and we'll make a plan. He's in the Guineas next week but you are jumping from a handicap to a Group 1. I think the weather is to be very warm as well, if it came up dead soft I might chance it. He's a gorgeous horse, you can put him anywhere and do anything with him as he's just so easy.
Blues Emperor brings up brace for Murtagh and Coen
That was great, he's a bonny little horse. He ran really well the last day because he would have needed the run a little bit on that ground. Today we were wondering would he handle this better ground. He's very genuine and tough. It's a pleasure to have horses for the owners, they are lovely people and I rode winners for them when I was with John Oxx as an apprentice. It's great to get a horse like this for them. Hopefully he'll be able to be a premier handicap horse because he's very genuine. A mile is probably a good trip for him. He handled the ground but he'll probably be better with a bit more ease. He did the same in Listowel, when he got on the rail he doesn't let them get past.