Downpatrick Mon, 31st Aug, 2026  Eben Zaabeel He was very keen and free, and he had only one run over hurdles. The track's undulations might not have been in his favour. They have done a great job on the track; it is watered and credit to them as it is as good as I've seen all over Ireland. We were happy to run him and take his chance. It all worked out well. He was a bit keen, but during the race Dan got him switched off. He was a bit novicey but, overall, you'd be very happy and he won well. There is only one winning post and it is fair stiff from the furlong (pole) home, you see an awful lot of results changing at Downpatrick and Galway and all those places with a stiff finish. That man (King) is one of the best lads riding and he knows where the winning post is and that is what counts.

Curragh Sat, 22nd Aug, 2026  Acula She had a nice debut and she came on nicely from that. It was hard going against the boys but we wanted to come to a nice track. We'll see how she pulls up and make a plan from there. I'd say the ground was probably sharp enough for her. We think that hopefully she's a filly that long term black type will be on the agenda but maybe she's just not there yet.

Tramore Sat, 15th Aug, 2026  Rakki He has a great pedigree and ran well in Galway. Billy Lee said just to drop him back a little bit, he thought he didn't get home. I said to Ben before he went out that he was a small, little, nimble horse, and I said he’d go around here like a greyhound. Ben said he really enjoyed the track and the ground. David Casey, representing

Dundalk Sat, 15th Aug, 2026  Touch The Moon He was very unlucky in Galway, he was probably going to be placed in the race on the Friday and got interfered with late on. He wasn't beaten overly far on kind of poached ground which wouldn't be ideal for him. It was a small entry for this, and he had only ever run once on the all-weather. He's done it quite well, so I'm delighted for the lads. He ran in Leopardstown and made absolutely ridiculous fractions that day in front in the ladies' race and still ran a great race. He's a great money-spinner and he's very honest. He will go back over hurdles - he wants top of the ground, and he never really got it over hurdles. He was third behind Talk The Talk in a maiden (Limerick). He's a nice horse. He's a very happy horse and he likes getting out to the field and maybe just enjoys our smaller establishment. We'll go as long as the ground is fairly quick. When the ground kind of goes on us, we will stop with him.

Gowran Park Wed, 12th Aug, 2026  Star Performer She has done nothing wrong. She won nicely on debut and this was an obvious stepping stone. You'd have to be impressed with the manner of her victory. She's a stakes winner now. A daughter of Sea The Stars, good-looking filly.

Leopardstown Thu, 6th Aug, 2026  Wall Street He is obviously a good horse - he just took off. For him to do that, he had to be good. They didn't go very quick. He's a big horse anyway, but he will come on tons I'd say.

Leopardstown Thu, 6th Aug, 2026  Wall Street He is obviously a good horse - he just took off. For him to do that, he had to be good. They didn't go very quick. He's a big horse anyway, but he will come on tons I'd say.

Leopardstown Thu, 23rd Jul, 2026  Alpha She won obviously. It was a bit messy at the start. She was a little bit slow away. Ryan said he just gave her a little root to wake up and then she came on the bridle and was doing a little bit too much. And then Wayne got away and it was just a mess really. Anyway, she won and it was grand. She got a little bit tired as well. We are training her as the races are work rather than races if you know what I mean. If they are not really wound up and it goes wrong at the start it can be difficult. I thought she did well to win. She will be fine. I look forward to her the next day. The plan will be to go for the Debutante at the Curragh.

Curragh Sun, 19th Jul, 2026  Star Performer She came from the breeze-ups. She did a satisfactory trial last month and we thought she'd run a nice race here on debut. It probably set up well for her. The thought would be that we'd go for probably smaller steps for now, rather than aggressive steps. She's a daughter of Sea The Stars and you'd have to like the way she won today.

Curragh Sat, 18th Jul, 2026  Johanna Walsh It was a huge performance from the filly. I thought Dylan gave her a fantastic ride because he controlled the whole race. He felt like he'd be able to do that from a mid-pack position and he really did. She came on the bridle between the three and the two. We knew that she'd love the fast ground and we felt like she was in good shape coming here. It's really special to win a Classic here in Ireland. This is what we are in the game for and this is why we do what we do. We'll enjoy today. She's had a busy first part of the season. We'll probably give her a little freshen up now and focus on an autumn campaign.

Roscommon Tue, 30th Jun, 2026  Elusive Echo It was lovely to get that with her. She’s a lovely, honest, filly and Shane gave her a smashing ride — kept it simple. She stayed at it well. She’s nice and tough and genuine. It’s very important with her pedigree to get a bracket with her and we’ll see where we go from here.

Punchestown Sat, 2nd May, 2026  Touch The Moon it was a nice buzz and was special to do it on our own horse trained at home. Punchestown has a very special place in the heart of the Durkan family and John was very much embedded in the racing industry. For a Durkan family member to get across the line at Punchestown, whether in a charity race or another race, is special. I have ridden in the Corinthian Challenge and twice in this race. I actually have a picture on the wall at home of myself as a 16-year-old with three-and-a-half stone of lead riding in another charity race in Ballinrobe. I'm at the other end of the scale now though. He had trouble settling last year so we took him back a bit and fair play to Gary Bannon (assistant trainer), who wanted to keep him for a novice for next season, by coming here. This was a pipe opener for him and it worked out well in the end. Gary and all the lads in the yard do a tremendous job and we've had 20 winners this year, which is phenomenal for a small yard.