Going - Soft. heavy in places. Overcast
Placepot Pool - 10,992.20 Dividend - 68.80 Winning Units - 111.98. Quadpot Pool - 1,851.04 Dividend - 21.10 Winning Units - 64.71. Days Aggregate - 93,839.00 Last Year 91,418.00
Alarm Call builds on promising debut to win for Keane
Colin (Keane) was very happy with her. She's very straight-forward, he said she got two lengths out of the gates, and she was very professional. She's come on a ton from her run at Naas as everybody could see she would do from there. She's handled this ground, being by Oasis Dream, and she handled the downhill. Colin said she took a blow so there is a bit of improvement left. We'll see how she comes out of this and see if there is a winners race or something black-type. It's not all about this year though but if she tells us she still wants to go, and there is something, we'll find something for her. She was a late developer so it's all about next year and I think she is smart. The second horse had plenty of experience and there were a couple of horses in it that their trainers liked, so I think there was a bit of depth in the race.
Harry's Hill takes nursery for Hassett and Whelan
I thought his run here on his last visit was a serious run. Ronan was a small bit disappointed with him last time (at Tipperary) and said the ground was just too fast for him. He was bought in lockdown by two electricians and a publican, he was to go for the breeze-ups, so a red carpet should be out for them when things open! They were coming today and had it all signed up before things changed. The first day he ran with the choke out but the second day I thought it was a brilliant run (finished eighth of twelve behind Tar Heel). It was nearer six then and he just didn't get home. Ronan said he will get six. We'll see what the handicapper does now.
Ewing's a Pretty Smart rider according to Martin
He's a talented rider (Sam Ewing). I thought they went very hard and he was clever enough not to panic. We said wherever she was able to travel herself is the right place to be. He did his homework and knew what to expect with her. In fairness to Dylan (Browne McMonagle) he told him a bit about her. She came out the right side of it and it's nice to come home in front as we've had so many seconds and thirds. She's not as mad as her half-sister (six-time winner) Aspen Belle. She has a lot of her traits and she's starting to catch up with her results wise. She's been very consistent. She was a little bit outpaced on the fast ground in Cork the last day. This is her ideal scenario, a testing five. She'll probably get six now as she's not as hard on herself as she used to be.
Foley gets one back on Point
He's got bundles of ability and probably the key is to run him in a race where he can travel that bit better as he got taken off his feet a bit the last day in the Curragh,. He travelled smoothly today and won in spite of himself. His head carriage is a bit high but you can't knock him as he's won his maiden and ran off 85 here and won. I wouldn't mind having a few more like him. He'll have no problem stepping up to six. Shane has rode him twice and won twice so he has the key to him.
Double for Foley as Laelaps makes all
Dylan does the business in Fillies Handicap again
Na Caith Tobac leaves rivals gasping
It was a great ride. I didn't give him (Luke McAteer) any instructions as he knows him, he's great value for the 7lb. It's the last day he has that claim. The 7lb helped with the 10lb raise and the soft ground helped. I was actually going to pull him out at Tipperary last time because it was good ground. I was delighted with the soft ground. If he improves a bit he'll be fine but I think his future may lie over jumps in time, he jumps brilliant. I don't know what he'll get for this but we'll probably try one more on the Flat. I don't think we'll go hurdling this year as I think he's just a little bit weak. He's improved all year and was quite a weak horse at the start.
Foley back level as O'Leary's filly gives him a treble