Bloodless win for Mullins' Cotil

Blood Cotil jumps well, stays well and is a horse to look forward to. The faster the pace the more it will suit him and he's a hardy a horse as I've had around the place for a while. He takes everything that I throw at him and it's interesting that Scolardy was a bit like that too. We'll find a suitable opportunity for him next.

Shrapnel hits target again

Shrapnel has plenty of ability but is probably quirky enough. It's another winner on the board though and we'll find another conditions hurdle for him now before he goes jumping fences. He goes on good ground so we'll probably keep him over hurdles this season and he can always go chasing next summer.

Claimer on a High after beating Ruby!

High Desert is a hard horse to keep right - he's a bit delicate and needs to run fresh. He'll go back chasing now and I was hoping we might get a hurdle win out of him before he went back over fences. We'll bring him out again around Christmas . Gareth gave him a good ride and didn't lose his cool.

Doc's double delight

I was a little bit concerned about the ground but he is an improving horse and something to look forward to. He is a chaser in the making and he has plenty of scope. When he gets to the front he tends to idle a bit.

Twigline defies absence for Willie/Ruby brace

Twigline looks like a nice recruit and is a nice mare. She has had niggles (injuries) though and was bought as a three year old and got a stress fracture but we then had her ready and she then had another one. They are obviously lucky owners (also owners of Quevega and Thousand Stars) though and we just gave her time and she has come right. We'll look down the mares' novice hurdles route now . she has plenty of gears and also stays. I'm hoping there'll be a nice bit of improvement.

For A Finish defies top weight

Defy Logic wins his bumper by 35 lengths!

Defy Logic is keen but isn't silly and the hood helps to keep him relaxed. We've been using them on a few of our horses latesy . Alan said he couldn't pull him up afterwards! . Relief is the word more than anything though as he is a horse we've been doing plenty of talking about for a while. We're really looking forward to him going jumping and he jumps fences as much as hurdles at home. We'll have to talk to Frank (Berry, winning jockey's father and winning owner J.P. McManus' Racing Manager) but I'd imagine he'd go to Leopardstown at Christmas for a maiden hurdle. That should bring him on plenty.