Quotes on Iron Fist (IRE)

It was a nice performance as he was carrying plenty of weight. He enjoyed the ground and Shane said he won despite not handling the track. We thought an awful lot of him as a two-year-old, but he took a while to do things right although is doing things right now. It was a good performance, is an improving horse, and he really loves that ground.
After Iron Fist (IRE) finished 1st at Clonmel on Thu, 11th Sep 2025 1m 1f Flat Hcap Soft

Quotes on Apercu (IRE)

She’s a tough mare, she’s improving and Billy knows her well. He gave her a great ride,. She seems to go everywhere he wants her. She got it handy up front and he said himself that he probably got there a bit earlier than he thought. She was enjoying herself and was going sweetly. She battles and when the horse came back at her she just kept finding. She was tough out, she’s a great filly to watch because she wears her heart on his sleeve.
After Apercu (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 24th May 2025 1m 2f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Genoah (IRE)

That was a class ride and was as good a ride as I have seen Leigh give one - it was perfect. He just got up on the line, what more can you say. It wasn't a straightforward race and it was a messy. They jumped and went along early, and then they steadied it up. This horse was the last Flat winner of the year in 2025 and now he's our first of ‘26. We never really had a doubt that he would get today’s (1m4f) trip, but it now gives us more options. We actually feel with the way he hit the line there, that we might even step him up further. He might get a little freshen-up now and we'll bring him back for a bit of nice ground in the summer. I'm sure Justin (O'Hanlon, race planner) has a little bit of a plan and we'll sit down and chat about that.
After Genoah (IRE) finished 1st at Dundalk on Fri, 30th Jan 2026 1m 4f Flat Standard

Quotes on Star Harbour (IRE)

He's lazy and it was totally an inadequate trip for him,. We had him in Chester at the weekend, but the ground went against him for that Listed race. We threw him into this race when it was small entries, it was a bit of an afterthought. The conditions suited, but we knew it was a bit short. Adam got after him early doors and he gave him a good ride. He just got there and it's great for the lads, he's been a great money-spinner for them. He wasn't a cheap horse when we bought him, but the fun they've got out of him has been unreal. That's his third win of the year and he had a very good run the last day at Dundalk carrying a lot of weight. He'll probably go back for the Diamond Stakes there in two weeks time. We might give him a break after that. We've threatened to run him over hurdles a couple of times - we pulled him out at Down Royal because of the ground, but at some stage he will make another appearance over hurdles. He'll want nice autumn or spring ground.
After Star Harbour (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Tue, 17th Sep 2024 1m 1f Flat Good

Quotes on Touch The Moon (IRE)

it was a nice buzz and was special to do it on our own horse trained at home. Punchestown has a very special place in the heart of the Durkan family and John was very much embedded in the racing industry. For a Durkan family member to get across the line at Punchestown, whether in a charity race or another race, is special. I have ridden in the Corinthian Challenge and twice in this race. I actually have a picture on the wall at home of myself as a 16-year-old with three-and-a-half stone of lead riding in another charity race in Ballinrobe. I'm at the other end of the scale now though. He had trouble settling last year so we took him back a bit and fair play to Gary Bannon (assistant trainer), who wanted to keep him for a novice for next season, by coming here. This was a pipe opener for him and it worked out well in the end. Gary and all the lads in the yard do a tremendous job and we've had 20 winners this year, which is phenomenal for a small yard.
After Touch The Moon (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Sat, 2nd May 2026 2m Flat Yielding

Quotes on Crypto Force (GB)

That's massive. I'm delighted for Kia Joorabchian, and AMO Racing, because he's been a big supporter of mine this year and he's let me go away to the breeze-ups and buy some nice horses,. They cost plenty of money. I bought this lad myself and when he won his maiden I told Kia he was going to the London Sale and to be fair to him he didn't force me to sell him to him at home. I brought him to the sale and he paid a lot of money for him. The pressure was very much on me from that point on and it was a massive kick in the guts at Ascot, it just wasn't to be and he just needed that bit more time. To be fair Kia has been very patient, it's 100 days since Ascot but I just wanted to wait. He's a very exciting horse for next year. He doesn't do anything flashy at home, he just does what he needs to do. Colin said he'll probably be better on fast ground. I thought he wanted a mile-and-a-quarter looking at his homework. That's why I was happy to see a bit of rain to make the mile a test. He'll have no problem getting a mile-and-a-quarter but on better ground he'll have that bit more pace. He said he could make up into a Guineas horse over the winter. We won't get carried away with ourselves yet, I thought he won that very well and I'll go back and sit down and talk to Kia. He's by Time Test, out of a Galileo mare, from the family of Youmzain and horses like that. It would be nice to just put him away and train him with next year in mind. He's got the job done today and he's taken a bi
After Crypto Force (GB) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 24th Sep 2022 1m Flat Yielding

Quotes on Tribal Star (IRE)

He was riding placed horses and everything, it just wasn't happening for him. I was feeling sorry for him, especially as a young fella who has ridden out his claim, they struggle a little bit starting off. They don't turn into bad riders overnight. Unfortunately, some people do think that. He's a good kid and a very good kid to ride. He gave the horse a smashing ride and I'm delighted for the lads. He is a good horse and he ran some cracking races in England. We were very disappointed in Killarney the last day, I just couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe I brought him back too quickly after the Northumberland Plate. We just gave him a bit of time off. He got a little gallop up here the other day and that was the only thing he got since. He danced on the ground and is definitely a lovely horse. I'd love to jump him over a hurdle at some stage. There's a good pot in Southwell in the Racing League and he'll get into that if we want to go there, I think it is a mile and a-half. he could end up going there. He (Caffrey) rode out his claim very quickly, he was second in the apprentice title two years on the trot. In this game, as we all know, nobody gives you a clap on the back for being second. He has had to work very hard. I had a good chat with him yesterday. Lads start second guessing and it just doesn't happen, you've just got to relax and ride your usual race. Let it happen and it will happen. Look it happens to good footballers, they second guess when they are having a bad ru
After Tribal Star (IRE) finished 1st at Dundalk on Fri, 15th Aug 2025 1m 2f Flat Hcap Standard

Quotes on Slieve Binnian (IRE)

It’s not very often you get to win two €100,000 handicaps one after another,. He’s a lovely horse, very professional. We thought this was his trip and we fancied him, we thought he’d run a big race. We thought in the Curragh that he idled a little bit in front. A couple of people were saying that some horses were finishing well but I just think he idled a little bit. We made sure that we had him coming home today. He gave him a great ride and it was a good bit of placing by Ed (brother). We’ll see what the handicapper does. I’d love to bring him to Galway. It would be a tough feat but I think he would suit the place. He’s got gate speed and stays. He’ll handle a bit of ease in the ground as well if there is a slight ease there. A big thank-you to Mick Halford too, we were very lucky to get him. His mum passed away yesterday.
After Slieve Binnian (IRE) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Thu, 10th Jul 2025 1m 1f Flat Hcap Good to Firm

Quotes on Beauparc (IRE)

When she’s right, she’s a nice filly. The last (day) she ran disappointingly. I thought she might be in season, but we found nothing wrong. Maybe the track in Sligo just didn’t suit her and they maybe just over watered the ground. She’s done her job today anyway, that’s three she’s won now. She’ll probably be rated in the 80s now. The lads would like to go to Galway so that’ll probably be the next stop. She probably won’t run before that and she seems to run better fresh. She might take her chance in the mile and a-half premier handicap there.
After Beauparc (IRE) finished 1st at Gowran Park on Mon, 2nd Jun 2025 1m 4f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Follow Me (FR)

He's a fair horse, everything went wrong that could go wrong and he still weaved his way through. Three down I was like 'oh no', it was like watching a horror movie. Billy was so cool on him, he got his spots and got out. It's onwards and upwards with him, it's exciting to have him. They are two lovely horses (Dance Night Andday who won yesterday) that have won this weekend. They both worked on Tuesday morning and you'd think coming here that both of them would run well, but you'd hardly think on Guineas weekend both of them would win. Tom Malone bought him in France and it was a great buy for Amanda (Torrens). Unfortunately, she couldn't be here today, she had to go to the north for another engagement. She was roaring the phone down and she's delighted. We'll see what the handicapper does, he's 93 today and, if there was another handicap on Derby weekend that we could eke out of him, that's a possibility. He's very versatile ground-wise and it's just lovely to have a good horse. He's a big horse with loads of scope. When he came off the lorry to us, and given his two-year-old form, he came off like a big scopey horse and not a horse that was all about two. He's simple enough at home, likes his routine. I feel sorry for Shane Foley as he's ridden all his work and won his maiden on him. He was mad to ride him but had to ride for Jessie (Harrington) and then that horse (Matter Of Fact) was taken out. He is Shane's ride.
After Follow Me (FR) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 25th May 2024 7f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Cala Bonita (IRE)

It has been (form of last victory well boosted) and she is going the right way. Robbie said she wasn't doing a stroke really in front and every time they were coming to her, she was picking up. She stays well and I think she is improving away. That is her last run for me now, so she will be going to the sales. She's in Tattersalls selling on the Monday. She's a nice filly and I do like her, but we have to sell her to kind of keep the show on the road.
After Cala Bonita (IRE) finished 1st at Dundalk on Fri, 17th Oct 2025 1m 2f Flat Hcap Standard

Quotes on Nermal (IRE)

The last day they didn’t go much of a gallop but three of them took each other on there and it was a big help to us,. He’s an okay little horse, he deserved that but he could be at the full of his handicap mark now. I'd say we’ll start popping him over hurdles. We’ll probably try him in another handicap but he could start schooling away there now.
After Nermal (IRE) finished 1st at Roscommon on Tue, 30th Jun 2026 1m 2f Flat Hcap Good