Wexford Wed, 5th Jun, 2019  Shawshank we don't know what happened him the last day, maybe it was the big screen that caught his eye. Sometimes the big screen can change and flash and maybe it was that. He is in no way cowardly and is a very good jumper. From doing nothing only jumping fences, he went over hurdles like he was a professional and I was delighted with how he hurdled the last day and he never missed a beat today.

Ballinrobe Tue, 28th May, 2019  Blazing Emily It’s been a great day and that’s a good end to it. I’m feeling quite old as I rode her mother (Blazing Tempo) to win a bumper for Willie Austin ten years ago and she won the Galway Plate for us afterwards. This mare hasn’t been easy to train at home so I was a bit worried about her fitness coming here. We’ve had her a while but she’s had little issues here and there and we’ve finally got her right. I didn’t want it to turn into an end-to-end gallop, so I just set steady fractions in front and natural ability has done the rest. It’s great to get a winner for Kenny Alexander and I’d imagine we will try to find her some black type somewhere. I’m not sure if I will get her for a winners’ bumper but I’d like to!

Tipperary Thu, 9th May, 2019  Brahma Bull All credit to Brian as none of our usual jockeys were sticking their hands up to ride him as his schooling hasn't been fantastic and he is keen and he hangs. Brian deserves huge credit and rides out in our yard every week. He has a big engine but hasn't been easy to train and isn't easy on himself. He is awkward but Brian got him into a good rhythm. We'll step him up now and the way he travelled he could come back in trip. We'll find a novice chase for him now.

Wexford Sat, 27th Apr, 2019  Uisce Solas That was brilliant, it's my first double on the track. It's great for her owner Anthony Murphy who had put a lot of money and time into her. She was a bit leery when she hit the front but she had plenty left. She is in at Punchestown next Wednesday. If the owners want a day out we might chance it because it wasn't an overly hard race for her today. We might be able to get black type with her. Her sister wasn't beaten far in a black type race two weeks ago. Tommy Kiely, John's nephew, owns the broodmare and they look a decent family. The mother was very decent and bolted up in a 30-runner bumper at Navan.

Navan Mon, 18th Mar, 2019  Caravation She’s tough out and did it the hard way from the front. They were rated to finish close enough and they did. I’d say she will run again with the ground the way it is. We’ll find something, maybe a winners of two or something like that. Derrinross ran well (in the Albert Bartlett). The good ones quickened away from him but he got a bit of prize money and came home well which is great. He’ll probably have one more run and then go chasing if it stayed soft early in the new season. He jumped brilliant — he never jumped as well.

Naas Sun, 10th Mar, 2019  Gallant John Joe the race was on the short side and we were on the wrong side of the weights with a couple of them although we always thought he could do. We put him into the race because we couldn't see another one and we thought he'd need another run if he was to go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown. We're delighted because he works well at home and I'd say the cheek-pieces helped him a little bit. Barry (Browne) had a bit of bother with him the last day in Leopardstown, they got their wires crossed a little bit, but today everything went perfect. Barry gave him a powerful ride and he knows him well. He jumped beautifully, especially the last, and he did it very well. He should be a better horse over 2m4f or 2m6f. I'm not sure what the plan is and will have to talk to the syndicate. They were asking if he could go to Aintree but I'm not sure as he's a handful to get to the start relaxed. There was a lot of noise in the parade ring here today and I wasn't impressed. Luckily enough he had earplugs in or we would have been in trouble with him. One day in Leopardstown they took down a hurdle, and they were walking around for about five minutes. He was covered in froth before the race started but still finished second.

Navan Sat, 2nd Mar, 2019  Caravation That was great. She's a decent mare and I was delighted with that. We've had an awful lot of seconds since Christmas and we just needed to get a winner before Cheltenham. I'd say he didn't go quick enough on her the last day and today she was very good. Maybe she's a little bit better going left-handed. It's hard to say as she only went once right-handed and won her point-to-point right-handed. He made it a good solid gallop today and she jumped well. She'll be a lovely mare to go chasing with down the road. I'm sure with William (Flood) and where she comes from he'll want a bit of black-type for her and I'm sure she'll try for that. She might have a break. She's a full-sister to Niche Market, the Irish National winner. He made it a good solid test today and that's what she wants. I'd say she might have been a bit fed-up running on good ground. She won her point-to-point in very heavy ground and we were just waiting a bit after Fairyhouse as it's very unusual ground. Today is probably the first day that there are actually getting their toe in.

Fairyhouse Sat, 23rd Feb, 2019  Chavi Artist Lucky Larkin! I sold him to Rory just before he ran the last day in Naas. I’d say if he had his original colours (of trainer’s wife Helen) he wouldn’t have won! Rory is away at the rugby match in Italy,.

Punchestown Wed, 20th Feb, 2019  The Caddy Rose I’d say she will continue to improve because she has always been very shy. We used to cover her up in bumpers but when we put her out in front and away from other horses she’s got over it. She’s from the same family as Harbour Pilot. Her owner (Jimmy Kernohan) fell off a gate the day before yesterday; he’s in his seventies and shouldn’t have been climbing gates, but I’ll phone him now and tell him to stay away in future as that’s twice he’s after missing her run and she’s won both times!

Punchestown Sun, 10th Feb, 2019  Dinny Lacey We always thought a fair bit of this fellow and he showed us plenty from day one. He’d a nice run in Limerick at Christmas, and they went a better gallop today which suited us.

Thurles Thu, 7th Feb, 2019  Moratorium He is a grand honest horse who stays galloping and he's a horse who wants a fence in time. He was bought to be a chaser so we're delighted. We'll see what sort of a mark he gets and see what the story is,. Getaway John let him down at the last and I'm not sure he went through with it. He did that at Navan the last day but today he gave the winner 6lbs so it wasn't a bad run; he has the ability but I don't know.

Leopardstown Sat, 2nd Feb, 2019  Off You Go He was a bit further back than we would have liked but he settled him beautifully through the race. They sprinted and he came home strong. He’s a good horse to win off that weight today. We’ll probably stick him in the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and it’s up to the Martinstown team then what they want to do. He will go over fences next season.