Highland Crystal maintains her unbeaten record in Naas opener

She’s tough. She gave herself a little nick and Jack said she was leaning a little bit right the whole way up the straight. She’s gutsy. He said it wasn’t really ideal being in front either as she was looking around the whole way. She picked up and galloped. The (race) conditions weren’t really right for her here. She’s probably more of a Fred Winter filly really but we’ll see what mark she gets. She could maybe be a filly that we keep for Fairyhouse over two-and-a-half miles; it might suit her better. She’s black-type now and she’s won three races so she’s very gutsy.

Raise You Up continues on an upward curve

Elliott reaches 150 for the season after sharing double with Kennedy

He had good form; he hasn’t been the easiest horse to train but I’d say he’s in a good place there at the moment. I liked the way he went from the last to the line, even though it wasn’t the strongest race in the world. That’s our 150th winner of the year in Ireland. It’s another milestone and it’s important. The horses are running well, we’ve a good bunch, and Jack is riding out of his skin as well.

Barry seen to good effect opening his account as a pro

He’s a big raw horse, a big weak horse. At one stage last year I was nearly thinking of pulling the plug on him and then we gave him the summer off. They are a great bunch of lads (Night Owls Syndicate) to train for. They were hugely patient with him and he’s just improved as the winter has gone on. He’s a weak five-year-old and hopefully he’ll keep improving away. I thought he’d run well today but I thought there would be an older, stronger, horse that would handle the ground a little bit better and that we might be placed. To be fair to Brian, he gave him a very good ride. I told him to take his time and go wide. I’m delighted for Brian as well. He rang me a few weeks ago to see if there would be a position in the yard for him. He’s just coming to me a day a week. I told him maybe next October we might use him a little bit more or have him in the yard a little bit more. At the moment we have a very happy settled camp, so the only position was for somebody to ride in a 7lb claimers race. That was his first ride for me so hopefully he’ll be happy.

Coole Cafe shows smart turn of foot in the bumper

The last day was my own fault. The first day she had ear plugs in, and I let Deccy (Lavery) ride her too close to the pace the last day and she got very lit up as I forgot to put the ear plugs in. She was rotten keen and he couldn’t get her settled at all. It was ideal there today, only five runners she could follow them around in last and she has loads of gears. It was a very good performance. She went through the line well and she’s a nice filly. Going forward she’s going to learn. Back over hurdles on nice ground, going a gallop, we’ll be fine with her. We wouldn’t rule out trying to pick up a bit of black type in a bumper. I don’t know if she qualifies for a UK Listed bumper as she won the academy hurdle. We’ll have to look into that. There is a race at Sandown on March 3rd, so we’ll explore that.

Dinoblue is once again queen in the Opera Hat

Panda Boy on course for Cheltenham after front-running victory

It’s very pleasing that he did that again. That should qualify him for any of those Foxhunters. That was the main aim. I approached Brian (Gleeson) to see if he was interested in him because I knew John was looking to get on a horse like that. It’s worked out great. John missed out on riding him the last day but gave him a super ride there. That wouldn’t really be his ground; he’d like a bit of nice spring ground. He’d be even better on it as he floats along on nice ground. Hopefully he’ll give him a good ride now in the race at Cheltenham. He’ll love the extra quarter-of-a-mile and he jumps well. I’d say he’ll be better with a bit of company as well. With something upsides him he’ll even be better again. He put down his head there; he was very game. He can be idle enough. He’s in his own company now. He just found that in those good handicaps things were happening a lot quicker for him, and he likes a bit of room in his races.