Going - Standard. Overcast
Cross Border travel is frictionless for Ryan
People call him this, that and the other - he's probably not 100 per cent straightforward, but he's very consistent. According to the handicapper, he wouldn't be in the first three today. He was giving weight to a filly (Smart Impression) rated 74, and was carrying a big weight. Five or six (furlongs) I think is no problem. Look, it is good to get the win. I think he had run eight times - he was down the field the first day, then he was fourth, then in the next six runs he had three seconds and three thirds.
Unterberg strikes again for Hourigan & McSweeney
Joseph dominates another all-weather maiden
Squire Danagher in command for Oliver & Lee
We thought a bit of this horse last year and then he had a setback. We just had to let him have time to recover.Although he stripped fitter, I think he had a wee bit too much turkey over Christmas and he just wasn't quite race fit last time. We were quite disappointed. Definitely a sharper horse today and the blinkers did help. The race went very much to plan and he hit the line well. When the horse came to him, he found again so Billy was very happy with him. He travelled well throughout the race and was last off the bridle. When we saw that, we thought he would pick up.
McSweeney doubles up on Lynch's Prince
O'Connor shines on Donohoe's winner
His win in November worked out well. I reached for the blinkers today because he had lost five or six lengths out of the gates the last twice. He has come back off a lay-off today nice and fresh, and the rider was outstanding I thought. He is in again on Friday (in a claimer over the same distance) and that is the plan, we'll see what happens.
No scares for comfortable winner Hodd's Girl
I think she has been out of the money once all year and she has got black-type twice here and in England. She ran a cracker in the all-weather finals in England and that's where she will be heading, to Newcastle for the mares' race. I think she has one more run to have here. I wish I had a horse like this to train every day because she is easy to train and she eats and sleeps. Touch wood she has never given me a minute's trouble. She is a super horse to train and great for the bunch of lads. We were going to cover her this year and we said if she keeps winning, we will keep going with her. We have run her over five up to a mile and that is how versatile she is. It is not easy to get those type of fillies that can be so versatile. Adam took his time and she did it easily. He sat in a lovely position and she was there to pounce. I just hope Garry (O'Gorman, handicapper) doesn't get carried away.
Stable switcher Mount Ruapehu lands the last
On his form with John (Grogan) earlier on, he was entitled to do that. He's down a long way in the weights. It was nice to get a win and it is his first run in the lads' colours, they have leased him off John. They are from Thurles and Limerick. He did that well and settled very well. The race worked out perfectly, there were two horses in front of him and Cian was able to slot in behind them.
