Townend quick off the blocks with Stratum

Townend secures another Ballinrobe double on Castle North

Progressive Sole Pretender three from three in Ballinrobe

We’re delighted and he’s doing everything we’re asking of him. We have a small yard with 15 horses in at the moment and he’s by far the best we’ve ever had. He’s owned by a great man, Michael Hogan, and he trusts us with him. We will have 30 in for the winter and we are always open to getting good horses into the yard.

Oskar High brings up Lee's first double

He’s a great little fun horse. The lads (Addergoole More Partnership) are a really sound bunch and they will enjoy themselves tonight. We’re delighted with him and he really toughened it out over three miles and one. Darragh O’Keeffe gave him a great ride, and he’ll go for something similar again.

'Horse of a lifetime' Wicklow Brave scores over fences

Fahey eyes Galway Plate for Peregrine Run

I honestly thought coming here that he was in better form than he was going to Killarney and I couldn’t believe the price (14/1) he was. It’s great for Kevin and he gave him a great ride. He’s a lovely horse and the quick ground here today really suited him. He minds himself and just barely puts his head in front. I don’t know what he’ll go for. There is a conditions race in Punchestown in a couple of weeks, and I have entered him on the Flat in Listowel. He’ll be busy over the summer as he takes his racing well on the good ground. I’d love to have a handicap mark with him on the Flat and go for some of the nice handicaps with him because he doesn’t lack a bit of toe. I’d love to say he’d go for the Plate but the ground often ends up being too soft for him at Galway. The few times he ran there he ran bad. If I thought the ground was going to be quick I’d love to go there but I doubt it. He’s some horse to have and I got some buzz out of that win today.

Mullins roars to Ballinrobe quad with Blazing Emily

It’s been a great day and that’s a good end to it. I’m feeling quite old as I rode her mother (Blazing Tempo) to win a bumper for Willie Austin ten years ago and she won the Galway Plate for us afterwards. This mare hasn’t been easy to train at home so I was a bit worried about her fitness coming here. We’ve had her a while but she’s had little issues here and there and we’ve finally got her right. I didn’t want it to turn into an end-to-end gallop, so I just set steady fractions in front and natural ability has done the rest. It’s great to get a winner for Kenny Alexander and I’d imagine we will try to find her some black type somewhere. I’m not sure if I will get her for a winners’ bumper but I’d like to!