Quotes on Blood Destiny (FR)

New tactics, I thought that might be a help after Punchestown. Paul was very taken with him there. He's brilliant to jump, that was always his feature, but we were making too much use of his jumping instead of just using it when we needed it. Coming back in trip might have been a help as well. I don't know whether we've made a mistake now leaving him at home for Cheltenham but at least he has one nice prize in the bag. I imagine he'll probably go for the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. That was the plan, here and then on to that. I know it's two-and-a-half but that two-and-a-half will be alright for him as well. I was keen after Punchestown to change tactics and see what he was like riding him that way. It worked for today anyway but it mightn't work everyday. I wouldn't have any problem with ground for him. He's a lighter framed horse rather than big heavy ground horse. He'll go on nicer ground and might be faster on nice ground. I thought he was struggling on that down the far side.
After Blood Destiny (FR) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 2nd Mar 2024 2m Novice Chase Heavy

Quotes on Captain Guinness (IRE)

Obviously after El Fabiolo went you knew then that the race had opened right up and we felt we had a right chance then. Can mistakes happen more at the speed they go in this race, I don’t know. He had his thing at Christmas (fibrillating heart) and I just kept thinking the horse deserved to get his Grade One so much, to get this one is amazing. Everyone at home has done a fantastic job and the vets. The tests he went through after Christmas, his heart specialist was happy and the IHRB (Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board) was happy and everyone was. In fairness to Sam who looks after him, he hadn’t known him in such form. We took a view from Leopardstown in February we just wouldn’t train him hard and keep him fresh and happy and that’s what we did. We just wanted him really bullish and he’s been trying to buck Sam off for the last two weeks, so I’m not sure he was as happy with the plan as I was, but it’s worked out for us all now.
After Captain Guinness (IRE) finished 1st at Cheltenham on Wed, 13th Mar 2024 1m 7f Chase Soft

Quotes on Energumene (FR)

I don’t know what he’s on at 12 years of age but I’m going to get some of it!. I couldn’t believe how well he was going. You could see Paul just absolutely tanking and the further he was going the better he was liking it. I’m just amazed that he could put in such a performance today. I’m delighted with Blood Destiny too and very sorry for Saint Sam (fell two out) and connections. Energumene stole the show. At 12 years of age to put in a performance like that. He ran like a seven or eight-year-old. Paul picked right.
After Energumene (FR) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Mon, 6th Apr 2026 2m 3f Chase Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Il Etait Temps (FR)

Fantastic performance. He is all heart. We missed the third last. Not the jump I wanted at that point. He came back on the bridle and I felt all the way down the straight that I just had Paul's measure. He has been so consistent all year. I think that was his best performance yet. He is there battling for you every time.
After Il Etait Temps (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Thu, 2nd May 2024 2m Novice Chase Yielding

Quotes on Majborough (FR)

Mark Walsh was very adamant that he wanted them (cheekpieces) on and that he wanted to ride him his own way. We’d been telling him how to ride him one way and then someone else the next day. Mark said ‘I wanted to do it my way’. We failed so all credit to Mark Walsh. He was terrific. You could see Mark was enjoying it and the horse was enjoying it with him. It was just poetry in motion down the back. I was afraid that he might not have enough left in the tank over the second last, but Mark said to me there that he had plenty in the tank. When horses looked like they might swallow him up going down to the last Mark just gave him a squeeze and he picked up. He threw a terrific jump in at the last and galloped away up the straight. I was wondering over the first three fences if they were going to kill one another and leave it to Marine Nationale but every jump he put in he was getting a half-length or a length off the ones behind him and it all paid off in the end. We’ve had a few funny days, but Mark got the tune out of him today and it was fantastic.
After Majborough (FR) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Sun, 1st Feb 2026 2m 1f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Marine Nationale (IRE)

We missed a lot of our novice season last year so it was a slow build, and I felt the horse had improved every run and had improved again from Cheltenham and we were proved right. He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward. Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all of the storied horses over the years. He’s only eight and that’s his 12th run — he has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham. He’s so laidback, goes through the gears and just does enough. He doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs. He’s the most wonderful creature and everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. Garrett (Cotter) rides him every day, Mandy looks after him — it’s just a great success for Kildare as there are not too many National Hunt horses trained in Kildare anymore. We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we are able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition. This is the horse of a lifetime and we are going to mind him and you’ll see him back in Cheltenham next year and he won’t be 10/1 like he was this morning!
After Marine Nationale (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Tue, 29th Apr 2025 2m Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Solness (FR)

He jumped well, travelled well the whole way and when the other horse (The Banger Doyle) came to him, he toughed it out. This trip seems ideal,. He is a classy horse on his day and Oakley's 5lb off was a big help, as his claim is very valuable. Oakley is on the Hill (at Owning) five days a week so it is nice to get him a winner as he deserves it.
After Solness (FR) finished 1st at Listowel on Sun, 22nd Sep 2024 2m 1f Hcap Chase Good to Yielding