Recent Quotes
Gowran Park Mon, 19th Oct, 2026 Lord Aus He pulled it out of the bag. Ben said he was on a bad side of the track. The second kicked down the near side, Ben said he didn't see him until late. In fairness to the horse, Ben said he responded very well to the line. He's a tough little horse, he's not very big. His brother won the English Cesarewitch, he's a brother to Alphonse Le Grande. He's a horse that has a big future and he'll probably step up in distance as well.
Gowran Park Mon, 19th Oct, 2026 Littlepacer She missed the kick in Dundalk and she was back a bit too far. Jessica (Maye) said they went very slow and they sprinted up the straight that night. She was much more straightforward today. It looked like an ideal opportunity. These 0-60s are a little bit easier than the last time she ran. The lads are a syndicate from Dublin. They'd love to have a runner during the winter in Dundalk so we'll look and see can we give another up there. She didn't love the track the last day but I think she deserves one more chance this year.
Curragh Thu, 15th Oct, 2026 Priorstown He's a big, backward, lazy horse that will get better. He's got a bit of a pedigree. Ben said today he travelled well for the first time. The distance and the ground is helping him. The cheekpieces probably helped him as well. He likes cut in the ground. I do think mentally he could be better next year.
Thu, 15th Oct, 2026 Priorstown He's a big, backward, lazy horse that will get better. He's got a bit of a pedigree. Ben said today he travelled well for the first time. The distance and the ground is helping him. The cheekpieces probably helped him as well. He likes cut in the ground. I do think mentally he could be better next year.
Naas Sun, 11th Oct, 2026 Vanir She’s a big strong galloper and gets through the ground well,. I didn’t have any fear of bringing her back to a mile-and-a-quarter, especially with the soft ground. We said we’d let her stride along today. She got a little bit held up the last day in Down Royal. Ben said she has a big engine and gallops well. Hopefully we’ll get to keep her for next year, I think she’ll be a nice four-year-old. She should progress, like most of Maurice’s (Regan) horses. She should only get better with a bit of time.
Naas Sat, 10th Oct, 2026 Pink Venom I thought she had a great chance coming here. She's after bouncing out of her last two races really well. She's not over big but she's tough and hardy. She'd been running in good maidens but she's really found her niche now. Ben said she's very genuine. She wouldn't love that ground but she got through it well. She's after winning the Birdcatcher now and earning herself an extra bonus (€20k). Noel (Hartley-owner) is a big supporter of mine, so I'm delighted for him. She's gone up 19lb in the ratings and it's always tough coming here on the back of that rise but it just looked like a good opportunity today. She'll probably have to go into black type races now. I don't know if there's anything left for her from now until the end of the year but she's one to look forward to next year. She's after having a busy season so she deserves a break. We might start her off in a Guineas trial next year.
Curragh Sun, 4th Oct, 2026 Blue Blue Moon I did think she ran very well the last day. The ground might have been tight for her. She loves that ground. I think a mile at the Curragh would have suited her really well. She wasn't beaten far the last day in a very good race. I did think coming here today the ground was key to her. Rory gave her a great ride.
Curragh Sun, 27th Sep, 2026 Curracloe She is a very nice filly. For ours to win first time out the way she did, she’s a bit special. It was a beautiful race for her today. I was a bit worried about the ground but as Ben (Coen, jockey) said to me this morning ‘the good ones seem to go on any ground, Johnny’, and we think she’s a good one. She quickened up really well when she got there. She was a little bit unbalanced on the ground but she’s just probably good. She was able to cope today but I think you’ll see a much better filly on faster ground. Today was important, another test passed. She’ll probably have harder steps along the way but we were very happy with the way she won today. She strikes me as a Guineas filly. Those long cold nights in the winter will feel a bit shorter with her to look forward to!
Fairyhouse Mon, 21st Sep, 2026 Pink Venom I did fancy her. I thought she ran very well in Naas (behind Timeless Tale) and I think that was a very good maiden,. It looked like an ideal race for her today. Ben said it was a nice set-up, good pace. She settled well and hit the line well. She still has to strengthen up a little bit, physically. She’s a pretty decent filly, I think, and I’d be expecting her to improve nicely. The runner-up (stablemate Prince of Peppard) is a nice horse too, the little fella, he’s only getting it together. Again, it was an ideal set-up today as they went fast. Ben said the last day, he didn’t really get going. The two of them ran great and we’re delighted.
Fairyhouse Mon, 21st Sep, 2026 Divine Legend We’re delighted with that, she’s been running very consistently and this looked like a good fit today,. She was staying on well the last day over a mile, but Ben said she’d have no problem dropping back, she has a bit of speed. It’s job done today, she’s a homebred, so it was important to get that bracket. We’ll sit down and see. We’ll probably give her one more run before the year is out, and then decide what’s going to happen next year. She’s a fine big filly, by Blue Point, and I think there is still a bit to come.