Cotai on control in Gowran opener

He’s improved and done very well over the winter. He was promising when nearly winning his barrier trial and then the race after didn’t work out so we decided to give him a chance to improve over the winter. We knew we had a nice horse on our hands so we are happy he delivered today. He’s done plenty and we knew he was fit. We said if he jumps well to let him use himself and he kept finding. Wayne thinks a mile is as far as he wants to go and we’ll see what the handicapper does and make a plan.

Lamprog gets off the mark at Gowran

Massaman continues fine form for Davison

He’s been busy but I thought he’d take a bit of whacking today. He’s an interesting horse - a big laidback type of fella. He’d half fool you if you let him. It’s taken a while to get there but he’s going in the right direction. We’ll see how he comes out of this and what the handicapper does. He’s taken his racing very well and hasn’t lost a kilo since he won in the Curragh. He’s run three times in 17 days.

Heel makes winning return for Mulvany

She’s improving all the time and had a hard season last year. Starting off today I thought she might need the run. She’s a tough lady and seems to be getting stronger. She had a bit of trouble going into the stalls in the past but Will Hayes has done a good job with her. We’ve learned that she runs better without the whip and Wesley gave her a fine ride.

Slattery completes across the card double with Aingeal Dorcha

I thought he’d win in the Curragh the last day but he ran too free, did too much. He did that well. He’d prefer softer ground. He’s a nice horse and will jump a hurdle. He’s a fine big horse and I think he’d be good at it. He ran well here last year and we always thought a bit of him. He stays a mile and two and could go in mile races on heavy ground.

Wordsworth makes odds-on punters sweat

Vischio off the mark on Flat

That was a little bit unexpected as I thought she might need the run. We had a good time with her over hurdles last year and I thought she had a favourable mark on the Flat and she put that right today. She may have got a bit tired in the last furlong and hopefully she will improve from it. Dylan gave her a lovely ride and she’s tough once she gets on the front end. The plan is to mix it between Flat and hurdles. She might even try a chase later on in the year. She jumps for fun.

Well-bred Burma lands finale for Lavery

She’s been a long time in the making. Jack said she loved that but I wasn’t sure if the ground might be a bit fast and I thought she’d need the run. I thought he gave her a really nice ride and she stayed the trip well. She’s a very well-bred filly. We’ll probably look for something similar.