Galway Fri, 2nd Aug, 2024  Battleoverdoyen He was high class; he was a Grade 1 winner. He was very unlucky all winter with the ground being very soft, he was struggling with his wind on real soft ground,. said Elliott. We went hunter chasing with him and had a great plan to qualify him for the Foxhunters this year but didn't get to qualify him, everything went wrong. For him to come back and win for the lads here is great because they've been patient with him. He wasn't going to have too many more chances which just goes to show if you don't give up. He's a lovely horse, it's great for Pioneer and great for Danny Gilligan, a local man, who was touched off in a couple of races during the week. I thought when he hit the front a half furlong down 'I don't know if he'll get home with his wind'. I'd say it just did catch him for the last half furlong. He's been a horse of a lifetime for me, I've had him since he was a four-year-old. Obviously he's a Grade 1 winner and to come back and win for the boys today, if he doesn't do anything ever again he's going to have a great life. In fairness he has dropped a lot in the handicap, he's 123 there and was rated 160 at his best. We'll enjoy today and make a plan after that. He might go to Listowel for one of the handicap chases there.

Killarney Thu, 18th Jul, 2024  The Gray Ghost We thought he'd win the last day but Pa (King, jockey) came in and said he got his tongue over the bit. He is a devil for that so we tied down his tongue today - he has never made a noise but fiddles with it. In fairness to Pa he gave us invaluable feedback. We were wicked disappointed the last day as we think he is a fair horse and she gave him a lovely ride today. He is a big baby and is for sale. He is owned by my landlords Ray O'Connor and his partner Neasa Haverty, who are friends of mine and I'm delighted for them. It is the second time Neasa's colours have been worn and the first was by a horse which fell, when going to win a point-to-point and was sold afterwards.

Gowran Park Mon, 17th Jun, 2024  Influential Lady She has been absolutely brilliant and it's hard not to love her, . She is very very consistent in everything we ask her to do and we're very lucky to have her. She had a lovely run the last day in Leopardstown when she came home well and while I worried that her style of running mightn't suit Gowran, Wayne was brilliant on her and it is all about having confidence.

Limerick Wed, 12th Jun, 2024  Killeemore Lad It is great as the lads who are mainly based in Cork and mainly Urlingford in Kilkenny. They bought this lad during the year and he won in Hexham and Kilbeggan last year. I think he is improving and I ran him today with 10st1lb as I want to go for the amateur handicap at Galway with him, if he can get in off bottom weight. Andrew thinks he is improving all the time. He was unlucky in Listowel the last day when he was drawn 1 but missed the break, so it was game over although he stayed on at the finish. He needs to have good ground, he could go chasing and hopefully they'll continue to have great fun with him.

Listowel Mon, 3rd Jun, 2024  Minx Tiara She is maturing with age and being in foal (to Hurricane Lane) seems to have got her to finish out her races better. She was always a great mare but just wasn't able to finish out her races. The handicapper was fair to her after she won the last day and there is now a 0-140 E80,000 race for her in Galway. She is in such good form that she might run in that and that will be her last race. She has been a great servant for our small yard and has taken us to places we only dreamed of - she finished second in Leopardstown and has run against the big boys. To have a winner in Killarney and here is fantastic and she is owned by a great bunch of lads.

Killarney Sun, 12th May, 2024  Minx Tiara Minx Tiara is confirmed in-foal to Hurricane Lane so maybe that brought out that extra bit of improvement. We put her back over hurdles because she was better treated over hurdles and while she had a great run at Leopardstown (February), went to Sandown but the (UK) handicapper put us to the cross by giving us 11lb more. She also didn't eat when she went over and the ground was also really tacky which she doesn't like. I was delighted she got balloted out of a hot race at Punchestown (a fortnight ago) as I probably wouldn't have ran her here. she has a high cruising speed, likes to go a good gallop and while she might be a soft finisher, you have to use her early pace. She was initially bought for 1,000 quid in Goresbridge and as she was showing a bit at home, the Fastey For Fun Syndicate bought her and have had great fun with her. She has been placed and has picked up big prizemoney in bigger races. Breeding is a long game and we aren't into it, so we'll probably sell her off at the end of the year and hope to replace her.