Quotes on Unique Journey (IRE)

He’s a nice horse. I was delighted the ground change to soft because he is a Caravaggio and he actually grows a leg on soft ground,. We were very confident today. I had Colin Keane back on board, he won on him by seven-and-a-half lengths (at Naas back in April). He got a 16lb rise then so he said he owed us one!. He is in the October Horses-in-Training Sale. I’d be sorry to lose him because I think he’d be a good four-year-old as well. He’s going the right way. I’d say there is a big premier handicap in him. I’d be sorry to let him go but we’ll put a good reserve on him. I bought two nice yearlings and somebody has to pay for them!
After Unique Journey (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Thu, 16th Oct 2025 6f Flat Hcap Yielding

Quotes on Keke (GB)

I was very disappointed in Cork. I've driven down there with him twice. He was favourite last year down there, and he was favourite this year, and I won't be going down with him again. Just no luck. I mean Cork is a wonderful Flat track but Keke does not like it and, I don't like the drive. I'm getting too old for that, so we won't be doing that again. On ratings, he had one to beat today and the filly that was second, judging by the result now, we could drop down into the 80s. She was rated 78 and she frightened the life out of us. She gave us a proper race. From now on, it's opportunities or Group races; Scurrys or Bold Lads with topweight. It's going to be a huge ask. This race kind of half set up for him. He made heavy weather of it but he won. He's won eight times for us, so I'm very happy. He is a lovely horse and, we'll keep running him away.
After Keke (GB) finished 1st at Naas on Sat, 4th Jul 2026 5f Flat Good

Quotes on Staysound Susie (IRE)

Our horses are fit and well and often you’d look at the programme book, but there wouldn’t be the right races for your horses. It has all fallen right as there are races for my horses who go on the ground, and that’s basically it. They have been running well, are all in good form but the races are there for them. Staysound Susie loved that trip and had finished third over five (furlongs) here recently, which is too short. She was in the Listed race in Cork tomorrow but I said to the lads that she might only finish fifth or sixth in that but that she had a chance of winning a 30 grand pot here. We’ll try and nick a bit of black type with her as she’s going in foal this year because she’s starting to resent the stalls and things like that. She loves that ground, six furlongs and by putting her in foal, it might improve her a bit over the coming weeks. My other filly (fourth-placed Bint Majestic Roi) ran a cracker. She was the sleeper that I had in the pack, who was starting to work very well over sprint trips. She’s not bred for it, she’s bred to be a mile-and-a-half or mile-and-a-quarter filly, but she’s just been working well. Andrew (jockey son) got off her and said he thought she’d make a good sprinter.
After Staysound Susie (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Fri, 3rd Apr 2026 6f Flat Hcap Soft to Heavy

Quotes on The Highway Rat (IRE)

he was tardy enough away, they went a good clip and Billy had to keep him on the bridle so the horse doesn't make it simple! Once he got to the bottom of the hill, I said we were going to win because it is a long way home here over five furlongs. He found every stride and it was a great ride by Billy - it was a very cool ride. He knows the horse and knows how to ride him. The handicapper had only dropped him a couple of pound here-and-there but we were hopeful when we saw this race as it is all about 'horses for courses' and he likes this place. He had a lot of weight to give away, but was a Group horse in his day. Whenever he revisits that form, he is always a danger. Older sprinters have their foibles, but he did it today so we are delighted.
After The Highway Rat (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 17th May 2025 5f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Dmaniac (GB)

Dmaniac loves that ground, wants it pure bottomless and today was his Gold Cup, so we had to have him right. I told Wayne not to come back in if he didn’t win! I couldn’t see him being beaten, as with the ground and the light weight, everything lined up. There is a window with him on the soft ground and while I’d love to run him in the Scurry (Handicap), the ground will probably be too fast for him. He’ll run next week if there is something for him because it’ll dry up soon and he then could be off for four months. We had been praying for rain. He’s been a pleasure to train, there has never been an ounce of trouble with him and you want those type of horses. Wayne also said we could go back to five (furlongs) on that ground.
After Dmaniac (GB) finished 1st at Curragh on Sun, 15th Mar 2026 6f Flat Hcap Heavy

Quotes on Amiata (IRE)

He parks when he gets to the front. He’s a fine horse and the last day left him right. He will go to the Champions Weekend (Bold Lad Handicap) now because it is the obvious race, but he's not good enough at three for that sort of competition. We were always training him to be that sort of horse for his owner at four and five. You can see him physically growing. He's not ready for the 'big-time' yet. He'd have to (be ready) at four with a rating like that. You don't have to over-face him this year and these types of races will suit him. If he didn't go to Champions Weekend, there's a 100 (grade) race back here and he would probably go there. I’m delighted for the owners.
After Amiata (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Thu, 27th Aug 2026 5f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Chicago Pope (IRE)

We were a little bit disappointed with him the last time in the Goffs Million. There were 30 runners and he was in (the stalls) a long time and missed the kick. You could put a line through the first half of the race, but he finished well. I thought dropping him back to six here, because he ran well here before, and put the cheekpieces on him. Ben said he pinged the gates and travelled really well. He got a bit lonely in front but he always felt like he was holding them going to the line. He’ll be a nice sprinter next year.
After Chicago Pope (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 12th Oct 2025 5f Flat Maiden Yielding

Quotes on Dark Ace (IRE)

Probably shouldn't have brought him to Galway. We all wanted to go and we all love Galway, but it wasn't his trip and I said to the lads we are turning a sprinter into a seven-furlong horse. The last day in the Curragh, the ground was very quick that day and he didn't seem to handle it, but he's a fair horse. He's as good a sprinter as I've had in a long, long time. He's very fast. He's in the Ayr Gold Cup, but he's in the Bold Lad (Curragh) as well. We'll see, it will be either one. There will be loads of opportunities for him after that. I'm delighted to have him and I'm lucky to have him. He was very unlucky over five (furlongs) up the Curragh on Derby weekend. I'll just wipe off the last day. He should have won in Newbury. He's well able to hold his own. We were toying with coming here today or going to Ripon for a hundred grand race. Probably the way he won there, he wouldn't have been too far away (in Ripon). I'm delighted we stayed here for the lads.
After Dark Ace (IRE) finished 1st at Dundalk on Sat, 15th Aug 2026 6f Flat Hcap Standard

Quotes on Headmaster (GB)

I’d love to take any credit, but I can’t. This is Sarah’s (Lynam, daughter) horse really, she bought him, and I’m only in charge of who mucks him out!. Sarah does all the work with him. She made a very good decision because a couple of weeks ago he worked poorly, he was going for this race, and she said ‘we’re not going to work him again’. With all my years of experience, I said ‘that’s a clueless thing to do', but anyway we’d run with it, so she knows what she’s doing. Fair play to her. A small trainer in England (William Haggas) had him! I like the pedigree, the mam won the (Prix de la) Foret three times. I’ll have to do what I’m told with him, but the programme writes itself.
After Headmaster (GB) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 23rd May 2026 6f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Moltophino (IRE)

He was unlucky in the big sprint in the Curragh (Rockingham) over five (furlongs) earlier in the year. I'd say that is a good filly, Bear On The Run, of Danny Murphy's that beat him the last day over six (furlongs) in the Curragh. I'd say she is a Listed filly, and I always thought that horse might be a Listed horse. He was down to a weight and a mark where he should be winning. I thought he would win today. He goes with a bit of dig in it, and we might go for the Joe McGrath (Curragh) maybe.
After Moltophino (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 5th Sep 2026 5f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Oro Blanco (IRE)

he was looking at everything but was always doing enough and is progressive. He’s run over a mile, and seven furlongs, but he’s probably not a six-furlong horse so could step up in trip again. He’s a big horse for a Havana Grey and hopefully can improve again.
After Oro Blanco (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Wed, 24th Jun 2026 5f Flat Good

Quotes on Glory To Be (IRE)

That was great. It was a bit of a tactical race. They didn’t go over fast and she was a bit keen with him. He (Lordan) said he wasn’t too sure if she was comfortable being pinned on the rail - she’s a very small filly, but she’s as tough as anything. He said he was always comfortable, although he looked under pressure. He felt they weren’t getting away on him and that he’d be able to get one run. She just does what she has to do when she hits the front, so it was ideal the way it panned out for her. She’s a great filly. I put her in the Scurry in the off chance it would come up good, but they probably need rain there. This track does the best job of watering of any track in the country. The ground is a credit to them.
After Glory To Be (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Wed, 8th Jul 2026 7f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Nouvel Espoir (IRE)

I knew it (rain) wouldn't bother him too much, so I was happy coming up here. I was confident and he has done it well. I know him well. Obviously, I had a winner on him last year and I rode him plenty of times throughout the year. I spoke to Dylan Browne (McMonagle) beforehand, and he just said to keep it plain and simple and to take my time on him and he said he would run a great race for me. In fairness, he put his head down when I asked him to go and he hit the line well. Judging off the form of a couple of horses in the race, I thought they were going to go hard. Jimmy said to me to take my time and there was no need to rush. Get in and get comfortable, he said, and don't worry for the first three furlongs. Be nice and relaxed and go at the '2' pole. I'm still down with Joseph O'Brien and loving every day of it down there. Cheering home all the winners (in Royal Ascot), some training performance. With all the jockeys down there, you learn a lot. Every single person inside there has been a great help, and long may it last for all the good success.
After Nouvel Espoir (IRE) finished 1st at Down Royal on Fri, 19th Jun 2026 5f Flat Hcap Soft

Quotes on Smoke Them Out (IRE)

He loved that ground. You'd say he shouldn't run well up here but, even on good ground, he had been running well. He would be a bit outpaced and run on from the road home. On that ground, I said, 'jump out to go hard and if anything wants to take it off you, fine'. All his wins have been with plenty of dig in the ground. He's in on Sunday in the Curragh and if the ground is soft, we will probably have to take our chance. He has won twice there.
After Smoke Them Out (IRE) finished 1st at Bellewstown on Wed, 30th Sep 2026 5f Flat Hcap Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Go Athletico (FR)

It's a nice birthday present, I'm the big six oh today,. I suppose class is permanent and form is temporary and he did lose his form big time. He slipped back down and we were very disappointed with him. He does want juice in the ground. The ground is kind, I wouldn't say it’s slow or anything but it is beautiful. He's a good horse, we were beating Big Gossey off levels 18 months ago here in group races and he's definitely come back. He was in really good form. We went back to five last time and we probably shouldn't have. It think six or seven is his real trip now. He'll probably pitch up in Galway now in the Ahonoora, that's where he’s going to go next. I’m delighted for the lads, Jimmy (Fairhurst) is a big patron and big supporter of mine, and for Cyril (McMullan). The other two horses (Goal Exceeded and Apache Outlaw, finished 7th and 8th) ran very well for me as well so I’m delighted. We were mad keen to get him back (at the sales). I just felt if we could get him back at all there always going to be a day like this in him, whether or not he could get back to group company. I'd have to win two Listed races to get the same prize money. With a gelding like that I'd rather go for good premier handicaps. I'm delighted for the horse and all the boys involved.
After Go Athletico (FR) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 19th Jul 2025 6f Flat Hcap Good