Roscommon Tue, 4th Aug, 2026  Hashtag Pretender It was a very ordinary beginners’ chase. We’ve a rating of 124 and hopefully the handicapper will drop us a good bit for that now,. The third horse was only 104. He was entitled to win it on his rating. We had a little concern over the ground but I don’t think it was too bad. He’s one of the few horses that we have that handles proper summer ground. He grabbed at the second last and missed it and what I liked today was when he got headed, he battled back. Last year he was making the running and when he got headed that was the end of him, but they were much better races last year. With a clear round he was entitled to go and do that, you’ll struggle to find a weaker beginners’ chase all year. I don’t think he’s good enough for any of the novices and I’m hoping the handicapper will drop him a little bit.

Wexford Wed, 22nd Jul, 2026  Full Of Life she jumped brilliantly and it is good to see her back to form. She ran very well in the mares’ novice hurdle in Cheltenham when it was probably a tough ask for her, with the way we rode her. She did run well though, although was disappointing in Punchestown, so we freshened her up. We aimed for this and it looked competitive on paper. I’m delighted with how she jumped and hopefully she will keep progressing now. She has black-type over hurdles and we’ll aim now for the (Grade 3) Kilbegnet Chase at Roscommon at the end of September, as she is a real two-miler and loves going that gallop.

Punchestown Sat, 6th Jun, 2026  Le Grand Vert He had been running well,. He was fourth last time when the wee girl in the yard (Erin Dunseath) rode him and he ran a fair race for her. He probably just needs a staying track and the rain today, and the softer ground, suited him. He’s not fast and he’s probably not that genuine. but on slow ground when somebody takes him on, he can plug away. I told Carl to ride him as he finds him. He jumped well, I thought he made a couple of slight mistakes watching on TV but he said he jumped brilliantly. I told him to sit quiet, keep filling him up, and see how he goes. We bought him out of a claimer and he’s won three for us so we can’t complain. If every horse did that, you’d be okay.

Punchestown Sat, 6th Jun, 2026  Le Grand Vert He had been running well,. He was fourth last time when the wee girl in the yard (Erin Dunseath) rode him and he ran a fair race for her. He probably just needs a staying track and the rain today, and the softer ground, suited him. He’s not fast and he’s probably not that genuine. but on slow ground when somebody takes him on, he can plug away. I told Carl to ride him as he finds him. He jumped well, I thought he made a couple of slight mistakes watching on TV but he said he jumped brilliantly. I told him to sit quiet, keep filling him up, and see how he goes. We bought him out of a claimer and he’s won three for us so we can’t complain. If every horse did that, you’d be okay.