Champion jockey Colin Keane on riding Dundalk and a filly to follow

2017 Irish Champion jockey Colin Keane takes our questionnaire as Irish racing battles on in the face of coronavirus

Talk us through the importance of the draw at Dundalk
The importance of the draw varies according to the trip. Over a mile and a quarter, five furlongs and even six at times, ideally you'd like to be drawn low, because you're racing straight to the bend. You're having to do twice the work to get up and get round. Early speed is obviously a help but otherwise you're best dropping in. Over a mile and a half, seven furlongs and a mile you're usually OK.

In recent meetings has there been any notable pace bias in terms of being handy or coming from behind?
It suits any kind of ride. You can make it or drop in, then come home and win. It doesn't favour one or the other.

Who have been your main supporters over the winter?
I rode a lot for Ado McGuinness, Noel Meade, Tom McCourt and my boss Ger Lyons as well. We had a few backend two-year-olds and some claimers up there.

You have two rides on Friday, which one gives you the best chance of a winner?
I've never ridden Muzbid (4.00) so we'll see. Followme Followyou (3.30) has again been crucified by the draw. She is a hold-up horse but if they went hard and I was able to get into the middle of them, she comes home well and might have an each-way squeak.

With the turf about to kick off, give us the name of a horse to follow
I think we've a lovely bunch or horses and we've a few that were raw two-year-olds that maybe ran once last backend and were placed. Roca Roma is a filly I like. She ran in Leopardstown late in the year on bad ground and was very raw and green early doors but came home well. She has done well over the winter and is a nice big filly so I'd like to think she will turn out to be a nice filly.

How much of a relief is it still to be racing at all this week?
It's brilliant that we're still going and it's a credit to the Turf Club and Irish Racing. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy and clean and not give them a reason to shut it down.

How has coronavirus impacted your working week?
In work everyone is taking more precautions and is more spread out. We're doing what we've been asked to do to try and stop it spreading. It's all we can do.

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