Leopardstown Mon, 3rd Mar, 2025  Birmingham Alabama I was a bit concerned coming across the line because I thought we were nodded, but it’s great. Coming here we were fairly hopeful. The last day she just didn’t handle the ground. We had the two-and-a-half mile and the three-mile and, with the new rating bands, she was one pound out from getting in earlier. It was a fair performance carrying 12-1 over three miles. I’m delighted with that. Jordan said he got into a little bit of a pocket, but once she passed one or two she motored home. I was going to claim off her, but then Jordan rang me on Friday morning. He was after getting cleared to ride, so I was delighted to put him back up. She’s a good strong mare and on the slightly better ground today she was able to carry the weight. We’ll probably go with her to Fairyhouse at Easter time, there are a couple of races there that might suit.

Navan Sat, 1st Mar, 2025  Champ Kiely he put in a good round of jumping and galloped to the line. Coming back to two miles wasn't any harm to him, so I'm very pleased with him. He could go to the WillowWarm Gold Cup (Grade 1) at Fairyhouse during Easter over 2m4f: that might be a better option for him (than Cheltenham).

Gowran Park Sat, 15th Feb, 2025  Midweek Voices It’s great to win here today on a local day. He won the last day and he was well in at the weights today so we said we’d give him a go. Cian was patient on him. He jumped his way into it and came home well. He’s definitely improving, before he wasn’t finding much off the bridle but he seems to be staying at it a bit more now. His jumping is really getting slicker. Hopefully there is another good handicap in him, I’ll have to talk to Eddie (Walsh, owner). He still has a good mark over hurdles, but that’s why he couldn’t win over hurdles — his jumping is his forte. He said he was in his hands early but when he got in behind a few he switched off a bit. I think he would stay a bit further too.

Gowran Park Thu, 23rd Jan, 2025  Aspurofthemoment It looked like they went hard enough up front and I thought we had no chance for the majority of the race. We bought him in Goresbridge before Christmas and that’s his first run. We’re still trying to figure him out to be honest. I don’t think he was in love with the ground and, when he got him out onto the better ground up the straight, he rallied really well. He’ll definitely go further, and we’ll see what the handicapper does. It’s a great initiative to have one of these races (on a big day like this). It’s great for the owners.

Punchestown Mon, 13th Jan, 2025  Birmingham Alabama it’s great to get it done. It probably wasn’t the strongest race, but they all take winning. She would possibly be better if she got a bit more of a lead, being left on her own in front didn’t really suit us but she kept going and we’re delighted to get it. We think she’s not too bad and hopefully she’ll get another day.

Punchestown Sun, 12th Jan, 2025  Midweek Voices He’s a grand old horse, but he was just a bit frustrating - he always showed me a bit at home. He just didn’t seem to be finding much off the bridle. I’d say maybe the step back in trip (extended 2m3f) helped him today. He probably had the form to win it, on his best hurdles form. His jumping was a little bit sketchy, but he jumped well today bar one. It’s great to get a win out of him today. We said we’d let him take his chance after Tramore - in a seven-runner handicap chase at this time of year you have to take your chance. He did it well and we’ll probably look at another handicap off a lighter weight. He’s in again at Clonmel (on Wednesday). He didn’t get much of a race there, but that ground might take a bit out of him. He got the job done today and it’s grand to get a winner to start 2025.

Fairyhouse Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Champ Kiely He did everything as it should be done, he galloped and jumped. Paul was very happy that he’s much more relaxed over fences than he was over hurdles, which will hopefully bring about more improvement in him. We’ll have to look at the two-mile-five at the Dublin Racing Festival. He could easily step up in trip, Paul remarked that he was so relaxed which means you could step up. Chosen Witness ran a cracker and I’m very pleased with him. I’m disappointed for O’Moore Park, he was running a great race and didn’t deserve to fall. He jumped well throughout the race and the last fence just let him down.

Fairyhouse Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Must Go Now We’re happy with that, he’s eight-year-old so he’s entitled to it,. He’s a funny horse. I went to Ballinrobe with him in the summer and he got jarred up, we thought he wanted good ground but I wasn’t happy with him when he came home. We ran him at Punchestown over three miles and felt he just didn’t get the trip. We thought we’d go back to two-and-a-half here and it obviously worked. Kieren said he definitely doesn’t want heavy ground either. He was well entitled to win one, we felt, somewhere along the line. Hopefully we can get another one out of him somewhere. He said the first half he wasn’t travelling for him but he said when he gave him a smack across the top at Ballyhack and said ‘get into the race a bit’ he tanked with him then. I’m happy that he put his nose in front eventually for us.

Limerick Sun, 29th Dec, 2024  Way Down South My horses scoped wrong six weeks ago when Ask The Bookie bled, but had run well earlier today (finishing third) so I was hopeful. He can be quite hard on himself, so we said we'd jump him out in front and see how we get on. I'm delighted it worked out and he is a nice horse for the future.

Limerick Tue, 19th Nov, 2024  Hees Dynamite I was a small bit worried they went too quick but when they win they always seem to get it fairly right!. The young lad is riding well, the plan was to keep out wide and the horse jumped well. He is more of a good-ground horse so I'd imagine Thurles would be the one track where we could get nice ground before the season is done for him. I'm delighted for John Earls who has been friends for a long long time and I know all the Easyfix lads too, so it is great.