Gowran Park Fri, 4th Oct, 2024  Lot of Joy That was nice. Paul was keen to make a lot more use of her and make use of her jumping,. He schooled her during the week and she was very good. The ground is fairly lively, a bit more than anticipated, so he wasn't afraid to make the running and have a good go with her. It paid off. The other mare seemed to change tactics, she jumped off behind us. We were assuming they would go on. I think she's improving and we'll try and find another race like that and keep her on the mares route. She might be ground dependent, better off on nicer ground and hopefully we'll get another month or six weeks. I think it's as strong as I ever had her going to the races and that was a little bit of a worry, that she looked too strong but she's obviously better being like that.

Listowel Fri, 27th Sep, 2024  Frankendael That was magic and he is a lovely lovely horse who has improved all the time since we got him. I thought he won his maiden hurdle very nicely at Ballinrobe and when we were entering for this, I thought it was a longshot although top weight Daddy Long Legs came out, so we snuck in at the bottom. He is a particularly good jumper, loves soft ground and has won a beautiful pot for fantastic owners. The syndicate is headed by Vincent Casey, they are very loyal and fantastic people. They love Listowel so will enjoy this moment.

Killarney Fri, 23rd Aug, 2024  Prydwen it was my first runner in Ireland but one of his part-owners Keith Breen is an Irishman and has a house in Cork, so has been pestering me to have a runner. The world is a small place now and it is very important to travel horses and find the most appropriate races. To come to a beautiful track like this is a privilege although it was a mission to get here!. The lads came over with the horse a couple of days ago and did a great job, as he is a nervous horse so settling into life here has helped him. He has trained on the track both days and has enjoyed it. It took 18 hours for the horse to get here and for a nervous horse, he was great. We want to travel him during the winter so it was a good test. I got in at lunchtime so I've done nothing but my lads have had two nights here already. I'm going back and going straight to York (races) tomorrow. the horse had been running in very strong races but it was looking like he was an all-weather specialist, although got a beautiful, unbelievable, perfect ride today. I thought the easy ground was a negative but it worked really well for him. The owners are great supporters of mine so to give something back is important and he is a special horse who has won a lot of prizemoney.

Galway Sat, 3rd Aug, 2024  Cameletta Vega She was a little bit worked up, but very professional once the race started. The plan wasn’t particularly to make the running, but nobody wanted to make it and I said we’d bowl along. We got to set our own fractions and kick off the bend. With her pedigree she was entitled to win.

Curragh Sun, 30th Jun, 2024  Los Angeles We were delighted with him in Epsom and we thought he would come forward. Obviously he did go forward in Epsom and learned plenty, we were hoping that would be the case so he could come back here. Ryan gave him a great ride. It was a solid even pace and it's an unbelievable track. It's great to have this race at this time of the year so all those horses can come together and you get to find out what's there. He's a big hardy horse. He looks like he was a baby but he is a Group 1 winner at two as well. He is progressing, definitely, and we're really looking forward to him. Obviously he's by Camelot so he has that class, so he can quicken. Ryan said he had a lot more class than he expected and he quickened very well when he got there. We came here thinking that he was going to turn into a Leger horse but Ryan said he has way more class than that.

Curragh Sat, 29th Jun, 2024  Bluestocking She had to dig deep with me and I though Kieran (Shoemark on Emily Upjohn) had gone on me. We hadn't gone overly quick and my plan was to take a lead off one. I didn't think I would get shuffled back that far but, by God, she's tough. I knew when I had hit the hill in the last furlong I'd be doing my best work. I'm so delighted really for everyone at home in Kimpton - they are the unsung heroes. Eric who looks after him is not here today, but he definitely deserves it. The last time she was here she got to the front and just idled. I think that was just a bit of immaturity so they (cheekpieces) were put on on Champions Day and the last day. I think we all felt the last day when she was so impressive (that) she didn't need them. I don't think she did. She's a big mare and I'd say really and truly as a three-year-old she just needed a bit of time. She's reaping the rewards now and it is brilliant. It was great. Rossa had an inkling that Emily Upjohn might go forward at some point. In a way it helped us, in a way it was tough for her to run down, but it gave us something to aim at. It's great to get it done. Last Irish Oaks Day will live long in the memory for the wrong reasons, but it doesn't matter now.

Fairyhouse Fri, 7th Jun, 2024  Current Option Class is permanent and form is temporary! It's been a while since he won but he ran a great race in the premier handicap at Cork (last month), where he finished fourth,. We ran him in the Curragh the last day where he was drawn right out on the wing and he got very upset in the stalls and he ran very freely. He was in good form and we just felt that Fairyhouse would suit him, around a bend, that he'd be able to relax and drop it, which he did. Adam gave him a good ride, he was very cool on him. The plans for the boys are that they're always over for the end of July and that's where he'll go. I'll see what the handicapper gives him and we'll try and get him into those two big handicaps in Galway. If he's going to get in off his current mark I'll leave him but if not I might have to run him again. He's a horse of a lifetime and you just don't get many horses like him.

Tipperary Wed, 29th May, 2024  Himalayan Heights That is lovely for new connections into the yard, who had horses with Gerard Butler some years ago. It was beautiful summer ground at Leopardstown the last day but we didn't think he let himself down on the ground, behind Highbury. He is a big horse and Colin said he didn't enjoy that ground either - he wants just a nice ease. Colin has no rules and when the horse became a bit 'chewy', there was no point fighting him as he has had three runs, and he did the right thing by letting him go to the front. He is an autumn horse and is definitely a next-year horse so we'll enjoy making a plan with him.