Quotes on Meet And Greet (IRE)

He was off for a long time with injury and we gave him a run in Punchestown but I came here today thinking he’d need another run. I was wrong and Phillip gave him a great ride. Phillip said beforehand that he would finish strong but we were wondering what pace would be in the race. They went quick enough and it was a good performance. If he stays sound is the big thing. He’s a gent of a horse and we love him. I’m delighted with that.
After Meet And Greet (IRE) finished 1st at Limerick on Fri, 27th Dec 2024 2m 4f Hurdle Yielding to Soft

Quotes on One Big Boum (IRE)

It was a good performance. It’s a great race to win, because Tommy Carberry was my hero when I was a young fella growing up,. He looked to be in control and he stretched out well to the line. He’s an improving horse and the blinkers certainly make a difference to him. He’s effective on that ground and it looks very necessary. He could go to Punchestown for the two-and-a-half mile opportunity race but it depends on ground. We’ll see how he is, there is no such thing as an easy race on very heavy ground. We’ll take our time with him as he likes to be fresh.
After One Big Boum (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Sat, 21st Feb 2026 2m 4f Hcap Hurdle Heavy

Quotes on Sequoiaspirit (IRE)

we are used to tipping away quietly on a Wednesday or a Thursday so come up here and do that, I really enjoyed it. Dad owns the horse and I'm delighted for him. It is hard to believe that this is his first win over hurdles. He is a cracking little horse although a clever man would stay on the Flat, wouldn't he! I just always thought there was a nice race in him over hurdles. I was a bit worried with the step up in trip and with the ground going (to yielding), but he saw it out well. He's so small and it just takes a while to get to know him: Liam (Quinlan) knows him inside out now. For a little horse, you'd think he’d be mad going down the inside in a big-field handicap, but he loves it! He thrives on that. He doesn't realise he is only 15hh - he thinks he is 17.1 or 17.2!. The horse is plucky, the jockey is plucky and when you have the two, it is a big help. We have only around 10 or 12 in training, we tip away and are very lucky to have Liam Quinlan, who does all the hard work. The bigger operations are getting bigger and the smaller lads are getting smaller but when you have one that is competitive, it is nice.
After Sequoiaspirit (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sun, 17th Nov 2024 2m 6f Hcap Hurdle Yielding

Quotes on Rexem (IRE)

he is a lovely horse, we've liked him a lot but it has taken a couple of runs to figure him out. He is a real stayer but can quicken off a good gallop and is sharp. He jumps great, is always there when you need him and has done everything we've asked him to do. I'm very excited to see how far he progresses as he has done everything at his ease. He won his point-to-point on nice ground and I'd say he wants nice ground — it is getting into it out there and I wouldn't like to see it any softer.
After Rexem (IRE) finished 1st at Killarney on Fri, 19th Aug 2022 2m 6f Hurdle Good

Quotes on Found A Diamond (IRE)

Tommy (Ward, owner) loves his racing, he eats and sleeps racing. He's not into golf or anything else, only the racing. It is great to see him get success. He gets a great kick out of it. It is owners that make racing and Tommy is so loyal to me. Very much appreciated (EBF sponsorship today) for these horses. Shane is from Monaghan and he would have started off with Anthony (McCann) and then he came down to the RACE school. He did his year in RACE and such a pity it is not there (anymore) because we used to always get jockeys coming through. It was a great grounding and you'd love to see it come back, and I hope it does come back. It needs to come back. Shane did his grounding there and got pupil of the year. He went to me for a while, then went back to Anthony for a stint, and then came back to me again. Great fella and a very hard worker. Lovely ride today on a horse that is not very straightforward. He is on and off the bridle, he is a little bit of a monkey, hence the cheekpieces. He had to give him a little flick through the race to kind of keep him concentrating. He saves plenty for himself, but fair play to Shane. The horse caught him out the last day in Thurles, but he learned from that. He knew exactly what he was going to do with him today.
After Found A Diamond (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sun, 14th Dec 2025 3m 1f Hcap Hurdle Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Kir (FR)

he is a lovely big horse and Josh gave him a super ride. He jumped brilliantly and just idled in front. I was a bit nervous coming to the second-last but after idling a bit, he stayed on well. I think he will come forward from the run and we'll step him back up in trip again. We'll look for something similar or a rated novice next. Fair play to Josh, who is a great little rider.
After Kir (FR) finished 1st at Limerick on Sun, 19th Oct 2025 3m Hcap Hurdle Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Verdant Place (IRE)

He doesn't like it tacky, and it was a big worry coming here. He would be happier on ground that is getting softer rather than ground that is drying. Simon said they weren't going that deep in it which was a big help. Anything between soft and yielding he is fine on. It is great that he gets through it, and he loves it around here which is a big help. Simon was a lot happier with the way he jumped. We might come back here next month for the Listed race that he actually ran in last year. We'll see what the handicapper does with him and see what Frank (Berry) says. It looks like a good option for him. This season has been going great with him. He was a bit disappointing last season, but this season he is really back to himself and we have got a clear run with him. He is running away as well as expected.
After Verdant Place (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sun, 9th Feb 2025 2m 7f Hcap Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Well Del (IRE)

That’s my first winner, I only have the licence since November, so it’s great. We only have five in at the minute and we’re only kind of winding up a few of the younger ones. It’s great to get the first winner under the belt. It’s a bit of a surprise. We know he’s a good horse but on the day you never know. He’s tough as nails,. He’s probably a better chaser than a hurdler and we’ll see know whether we go that way again. I’ve had a couple of point-to-point winners and a couple placed in hunters chases before but that’s my first one under rules. Hopefully I can get a couple more.
After Well Del (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Wed, 18th Feb 2026 3m Hcap Hurdle Soft

Quotes on Jeriko De Baune (FR)

Being 2lb out of the handicap wasn't ideal but at the same time I was glad that Gordon (Elliott) didn't declare his top weight which would have put us 7lb out, and we probably wouldn't have run. He likes heavy ground and while it wasn't as heavy as he'd like it, he stuck at it well. Niall took the bull by the horns and rode him positively, so it was a great ride. Who knows where he ends up going but he has a handicap mark over fences as well so that is an option. . Lily Lawlor, who was involved in Dunguib, is involved in this horse along with the other half the Crohane Syndicate, who are local to myself at home.
After Jeriko De Baune (FR) finished 1st at Clonmel on Thu, 6th Nov 2025 3m Hcap Hurdle Soft

Quotes on River Vale (IRE)

He’s a fierce kind horse and everybody is mad about him, and anybody can ride him at home. He got a hard race over three miles at Fairyhouse and we might have run him a bit soon in Mallow. I’m delighted for the lad who rode him because he’s in (riding out) seven days a week.
After River Vale (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Mon, 15th Dec 2025 2m Hcap Hurdle Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Toor Khov (IRE)

It has been a long time between wins but he tries hard and is ground dependent, so we were worried today. He is better on better ground as he breathes easier on it, and at least it was loose today as he cannot go on tacky ground,. The lads who work with him, Tommy Condon and Johnny Kirwan, couldn't see him being beaten as he was in great form and I thought, if he could get through the ground, that he would take a lot of beating. He is a bit daft, he spent all morning trying to kick the hind shoes off himself in the stable and we weren't able to clip him either, or anything like that. He is just very highly strung. His breeder Jim Nash, from Scarriff, is a wonderful owner and is very patient. He never questions what I want to do, as long as I keep giving him the information.
After Toor Khov (IRE) finished 1st at Thurles on Thu, 29th Jan 2026 2m 4f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Mystic Malina (IRE)

She is a grand mare and hopefully can go forward from that. She had won a point-to-point and had run well in a bumper and won easily enough today,. Someone was sure (she'd win) but it wasn't me who backed her. I told Harry to tip away and to keep an eye on the favourite (Justatan) as I thought he was the one to beat. It worked out well. My brother Matt bred her and she is owned by a local publican Anthony Smart from Ballincurrig. The family goes back years for us, as long as I can remember and back to the 1970s. My father and John Magnier had the base mare Even More between them. I don't know how many steps she goes back but it is a long time ago.
After Mystic Malina (IRE) finished 1st at Clonmel on Tue, 2nd Dec 2025 2m Maiden Hurdle Heavy

Quotes on Noble Talent (IRE)

When we saw the entries, we said we'd run if Danny was happy to ride him. Danny rang me the other day and walked the track and said he'd like to ride him. I have to thank him for this. JJ (Slevin) and Danny both said he should do well over fences. Danny walked this on Wednesday and told me the ground was lovely, in Mallow it was too quick for him. He needs three miles but we were quite happy with that. He'll handle a good bit softer than this. Jumping is a big strong point with him. He's a funny little horse, Danny pulled out wide as I don't think he likes being bullied inside in a big bunch. We had a cute man riding him. Have you ever seen a jockey to keep improving so much? He's brilliant. He works for small trainers really well because he puts a lot into it. JJ was suggesting to me that we should be looking at the Tim Duggan, he said that after Sligo. Danny said the same, that we should be looking at a decent handicap. He was thinking we could go out to three or three-and-a-half miles with him. He's in good order and fences seem to be improving him. He's something to look forward to.
After Noble Talent (IRE) finished 1st at Gowran Park on Sat, 9th Nov 2024 2m 4f Chase Yielding