‘I don’t know who made the call, but whoever decided to leave Sam Ewing on Croke Park [instead of switching to Firefox] - it was a big call and the right call. This was the winning of the race: coming down the straight, Keith Donoghue is looking for a bit of room on Firefox and can’t get out, Sam isn’t letting him down the inner. Sam has controlled and dictated the pace from the front. It was a beautiful ride” – Barry Geraghty

“Every step of the way, Sam has been in the right position. He’s given him a brilliant ride, even technically so with how he has switched his whip into his left hand as the race gets competitive. He leaves the bare horse width inside of him in the straight but you need the bravest of brave novices to go into that gap… A brilliant ride. He has a huge opportunity now with Jack Kennedy out. Gordon Elliott is lucky to have him at a heartbreaking time for Jack” – Ruby Walsh