Gaillard Du Mesnil impresses in Leopardstown opener

That was a nice start,. He was very keen and I thought he was going to pay the penalty but it shows how big an engine he has that he was able to still find more after it looking like Danny had stole the race. It was a nice victory in the end and he must be a fair sort to come from that far back in that type of contest. Paul had to sit further back than I was hoping he might which left him a lot to do. He made it up nicely. The Ballymore would look the race for him at this point. It was a tremendous staying performance in what looked a real quality field. Stattler was very good and Danny gave him a well judged ride from the front. That puts him in line for the Albert Bartlett and hopefully Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) can win some of his own money back.

Mullins and Townend double up as Chacun blows opposition away

It was a very good performance. I was a little bit worried going to the third last if Paul had anything left in the tank as he seemed to be niggling,. After the second last I thought he wasn't putting the race to bed or anything. Paul felt that he was in command at all stages. He just wanted to get down to the last, jump it, and then go. The end result was very good. I was worried over the third and second last but Paul said he was just asleep underneath him. They didn't hang around. Min set off to make the pace and then Notebook joined him. Notebook was probably just slicker in the air and Min paid the penalty for that later on. Min seems to be fine, Patrick got off and thought he was fine. It didn't work out for him today but the other guy was awesome.

Mullins and Townend treble completed by "helluva performance" from Energumene

I thought that was a helluva performance from a novice. He jumped and galloped and gave no quarter to any horse,. You couldn't ask for anything more, he probably stood a little far back off the last and Paul said he stood a bit far off another fence but other than that it was as good as you'd get from a horse having his third run over fences. He went a good even gallop in front and the time tells you how good a performance it was. I was hoping that the way he gallops and jumps he would be a two-miler but any horse that can do that is going to surprise you. Obviously when you get that type of performance you're delighted as you don't ever expect that. He's every inch a chaser to look at. If you were going to draw a picture of a chaser he's the one you'd draw.

Matheson Handicap Chase provides pleasing result for McManus and O'Brien

They've all ran well so far and it's nice to get a winner. I'm delighted to win a big one for JP,. He struggled a little bit in graded company and then when you go into handicaps it's a different ball game, it just took him a couple of runs. The last day was a bit better and then today I thought he jumped very well, as good as he's jumped, and that was probably the difference. Simon is a good rider. He's been riding a bit of work for us and rides a bit of work for JP. He gave him a fantastic ride. He could easily go to Cheltenham. We'll see how he comes out of it and see what the handicapper does.

Back-to-back Irish Champions as Honeysuckle hits career high

Torrens gains many more admirers with 116/1 Leopardstown double

I'm delighted. I was looking at a full parade ring beforehand thinking to myself 'imagine being the best horse in this with all the big names' but I won it,. I thought early in the race he wasn't winging them all and he had to be tough. He needs a test at the finish of a race. He probably would have gone very close in Fairyhouse if he hadn't been stopped. I was afraid the ground would dry out as he ran here at Christmas last season on quick ground and never jumped a hurdle, he will not handle it. He's not big but he's really tough. It took him a while to win but he needed time to strengthen up. I arrived here not long before Simon won earlier and I said 'well that's probably me gone now because he'll never win the two of them'. He's some rider and it's great to see another potential champ coming along.

"Fantasy racing" day for Mullins team completed by hugely promising Kilcruit

I thought Patrick had picked the wrong one, how wrong was I!. I thought Ramillies put up a great performance here at Christmas. Patrick had huge confidence in this horse and now I can see why. My mother bred him, his granny, and he was particularly pleased to ride a winner for her and in the colours of Michael Masterson. It was a superb performance in what looked like a real good race. I was hoping he'd be a nice horse but I didn't think he had that sort of capability. That's unreal what he produced there. It's been fantasy racing today. Energumene, Chacun Pour Soi, Gaillard Du Mesnil, any trainer would like to have any one of them in his lifetime. It's been a superb day's racing. I was hoping we might get a winner or two and things have worked out really really well.