We have four through to the second round of the Derby starting off with Riverside Pat on Friday.

He didn’t break in his heat and struggled to get a clear run. He was also stopped a couple of times as he tried to get through. I prefer the draw in two this time around and I would be quite confident that he can qualify.

Clares Wonder is our first runner on Saturday. I was delighted with his first round win because he badly needed the run. We were a bit further behind with him because of injury. I will be taking a little bit of weight off him and I would expect him to find a few lengths.

Sidarian Blaze has some early pace on his inside in Quietly and I would not mind him being led up. If he could secure a decent slot in second place around the first two bends, I could imagine him coming through to win. But he has to get everything right.

Gaytime Hawk can trap better than he did; he charged the traps in the first round. I wouldn’t be surprised if he headed for the middle once he came out.

All the others runners were fine. Millbank Stevie has joined Seamus Cahill for at least a few races.

 

While all this has been going on, the kennel has been going great guns back in Ireland.

Amazing Dude equalling the Clonmel track record in the Produce Stakes doesn’t really come as any shock to me. He ran three times at Shelbourne, with one defeat before he joined us and is unbeaten in his last three.

We knew what he was capable of through private trials when he did some great split times. He is a big 82lb black dog who loves his food and we have to keep an eye on him; but he is only young and should improve.

“We also have the favourite for the Oaks in Ballydoyle Honey. Who has won nine of her fourteen races and is as good as I’ve seen. Given the right type of going, she is well capable of breaking 28.00 again.

My wife Nicky has been waiting to prove that she is a better trainer than me – and it turns out that she is.

Seriously, I think we make a really good team – they say behind every successful man is a great woman, and that is certainly true in our case.

And supporting us are a great bunch of lads.

I just hope I’ve still got a job when I get home.