Leopardstown Tue, 3rd Mar, 2026  Harbour Highway He had a nice run here at this meeting last year, in a maiden hurdle, and I’d say he’s just improved for a bit of nicer ground,. It was nice to see him get his head in front. He’s been a frustrating horse since his bumper win. Hopefully we can go forward. I think he’s a horse that appreciates a bit of nicer ground. Hopefully we’ve got him on the right track now. It was a lovely ride by Alan, he rode him with plenty of confidence. It was lovely to see and keeps everyone happy and confident going into next week.

Leopardstown Mon, 2nd Mar, 2026  Vitorio Piel It was a nice performance, hopefully now he’s just coming to himself,. I think he should improve again for a bit of nicer ground as the spring goes on. The final of this series in Punchestown is going to be the big aim for him. We had him qualified already and this race just fitted in nicely. It was a taking performance and it was nice to see him hit the line the way he did. The first day we drew a line through it. We bounced out to make all and he didn’t have the experience under his belt to manage with it, and his jumping was terrible on the day. We’ve ironed that out since. We’ve sat on our hands for as long as we could waiting for nicer ground but it didn’t materialise so we ended up getting him out today and taking a chance.

Mon, 2nd Mar, 2026  Vitorio Piel It was a nice performance, hopefully now he’s just coming to himself,. I think he should improve again for a bit of nicer ground as the spring goes on. The final of this series in Punchestown is going to be the big aim for him. We had him qualified already and this race just fitted in nicely. It was a taking performance and it was nice to see him hit the line the way he did. The first day we drew a line through it. We bounced out to make all and he didn’t have the experience under his belt to manage with it, and his jumping was terrible on the day. We’ve ironed that out since. We’ve sat on our hands for as long as we could waiting for nicer ground but it didn’t materialise so we ended up getting him out today and taking a chance.

Naas Sun, 22nd Feb, 2026  Melbourne Shamrock It was a gritty performance. He’s been knocking on the door in a few nicer races,. It’s a great win to get for Robert, to get him qualified for Cheltenham. I’d say he should take his place in the Pertemps Final, once he gets into the race. Hopefully that won’t leave a mark on him but he is a tough, hardy, horse. Fingers crossed we can be competitive. If it was slower ground he is a thorough stayer. Ground dependent, I’d give him a chance. He’ll be a real nice staying chaser next year. Fingers crossed there might be a nice staying handicap chase in him somewhere along the line.

Punchestown Sun, 15th Feb, 2026  Soldier In Milan It was a nice performance. He’s still a bit green and babyish, I suppose he hasn’t had too much racing under his belt. It was nice to see when Paul ranged up, and Donagh sat down on his back, that there seemed to be plenty there. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards. He’s a big brute and we said we’d crack on and go chasing for fear he got injured and you’d be losing a year over hurdles. This is his game, three miles and staying tests and soft ground. He fences very well for a relative novice. He has an entry in the Brown Advisory, and I think I’ve entered him in the two novice handicaps at Cheltenham as well so we’ve plenty of options. We’ll mull over Cheltenham strongly.