Going - Heavy. Overcast
Jackpot Pool - 4,095.85 Dividend - 152.50 Winning Units - 18.79. Placepot Pool - 73,067.99 Dividend - 4.60 Winning Units - 11030.8. Days Aggregate - 313,503.29 Last Year 207,304.44
Monty's Star shines in the jumping stakes
Murphy eyes National Trial for in-form Clonmeen
The horses were all sick for about six weeks and it’s great to see them back in form. That was tight for comfort, but it was a tough performance, and the main thing is he won. We might think about something like the National Trial back here.
Storm Heart certainly one for the notebook
It was a very good introduction, I didn’t expect that. I was hoping he was alright, but he’s more than alright looking at that performance. Paul thought he was very brave too as he got blinded at one or two hurdles. He lost his confidence for one or two, but got it back. He took them on and he loves jumping. I would have said coming here there was huge improvement in him, and I hope there is. He’s probably good enough to go wherever we wanted.
Mullins and Townend grab double through Sir Gerhard
That was a nice performance and he’s got his confidence back over hurdles anyway. We’ll probably stick to hurdles now this season and he may go down the Stayers' Hurdle route. He jumped well at Naas until he fell and it took him a while to recover from that fall. I thought looking at him going down to the start that he looked big and I’d be hoping there is more improvement.
'Steamer' Catch The Beast blows the field away
We always thought he was a nice horse and we bred him as well. He was born the night of the famous storm, the Beast From The East, and we nearly lost him. I was watching the mare on camera and next thing a wind ripped through the place and we lost all our power and I couldn’t get the generator working. The foal was half out and was on his last breath when we got to him. That’s how he got his name from the storm. The longer trip probably helped him today, although Phillip said there's no need to go up any further in trip. His jumping is brilliant and he quickened up well.
Billy Lee Swagger another in Rothwell's best-ever season
I thought he’d run a big race in Naas and he gurgled all the way up the straight. I probably had the wrong bit in his mouth as he’d never done it before. I was really happy with him and he was working really well at home. The day he was fourth in the maiden hurdle in Gowran was a good run and I thought he’d go on the ground here. It’s been a mighty year altogether and it’s our best season for winners. I’ve great owners, great staff and supporters and we’re working very hard at it. The Blind Squirrels have horses in Ireland and England and are a really well-run syndicate. Prince Zaltar was my first horse for the lads and this is the second one. It’s great for Conor as well. That’s his second winner and nice to be able to support him as well.
Finegan rides first racecourse winner on Lady Bluebird
Eoghan is my nephew and that’s his first winner on the track. He’s had a few winners in point-to-points and he’s a serious rider. I got it all wrong with this mare and ran her on good ground the last day at Thurles. She needs heavy ground and a trip, but is as hardy as you’ll get. It’s after taking her six runs to win, but I think that’s trainer error!. She’s won her bumper, and we’ll go hurdling with her now. She’s a serious jumper.