Downpatrick Mon, 30th Aug, 2021  Ask The Leader If you run beyond tomorrow, you can't run in point-to-points at all. I had decided if she didn't run well, we would go that route and then we would go back to the track again. The last day Darragh said she just choked a wee bit, she's a very tense mare. He said to put a tongue tie on her just to help her a wee bit. He rode her slightly wide of everything else and she jumped and travelled everywhere. When she got to the bottom of the hill, I knew she would come up the hill as she stays well. In fairness to her, she has grown. She was a very small mare when we got her and she has grown into a nice mare. She has been weak all along and she is only just starting to come to herself now. She's tough. My biggest problem with her has been her weakness but she has been thriving and thriving. Just in the last two months you can see her turning into a mare. Her outlook was improving. Before she was only a shell. Darragh was just saying when he came in 'that's the point-to-point route finished!'. We've always talked about her enjoying a cut in the ground but she really enjoyed that today. I don't think it is the ground, I think it is strength now and she is learning and starting to relax. She jumps a fence well too so we have a few options.

Tramore Sat, 14th Aug, 2021  Aprils Joy I thought he had left her with too much to do but he said they went quick. I thought at the bottom of the hill that she wasn't going to get there but in fairness she dug deep. She is very versatile and has even won a point-to-point. She hasn't won a chase on the track yet but I think she will. Her owners (the Mick & Molly Syndicate) are from the Bellewstown area and there is a handicap hurdle in Bellewstown that she could potentially run in, but she is just not certain to get in.

Galway Thu, 29th Jul, 2021  Mr Saxobeat He's a lovely horse. We got him off Sean O'Keeffe's Dad and we were thrilled when we got him. We like him a lot and we would have been disappointed if he wasn't knocking on the door today. He'll probably go to the field for a bit of a rest as he's only five and I'd say he's on the go a long time, even before we got him. I think he could do with a rest. He had been going well and doing everything right. He was going well in a point-to-point (at Fairyhouse) when he fell and it looked good on the video anyway, we kind of bought him on the strength of that. The owners (the Roberto Syndicate) have had Agent Boru with me for years and he came good again this season. We were looking for a replacement for him as he's ten now and, thank God, it looks like we have a lovely replacement for him. They are a lucky bunch of fellas.

Punchestown Mon, 31st May, 2021  Pipers Meadow We think an awful lot of him. He ran a cracking race in a bumper and got a bit jarred after it. We had to mind him and he had a smashing run over hurdles just over a fortnight ago. Everyone that rides him loves him. Kevin Brouder would have ridden him but he got injured. The owner passed away a few weeks ago so he must be doing big things for us. He could be a very nice horse in time. We’ll take baby steps and see what happens. Sean (O'Keeffe) said he saw it out well and he could go a bit further.

Tipperary Tue, 25th May, 2021  The Dasher Conway it has been a while since his last run, he has been improving all the time and it was good to get in today. He is a fabulous big horse, hopefully there will be more days with him and it is great to get this.

Downpatrick Fri, 21st May, 2021  On The Sod I really enjoyed that because he was very unlucky not to win in Fairyhouse. I think the fall took quite a lot out of him. He's such a tough horse like all Asks. We thought he was in great form going to Punchestown and Barry said he just wasn't himself. He has been at the highest level the whole year coming up from nothing. He's had to learn his trade against the very top horses so today it was just camera work all round. He's a tremendously tough horse and I'm just delighted for Kieran Mahon and Noel Keenan (owners) down below in Roscommon and they can't get up to see him. They are small men and they have got some kick out of this horse. I tell you they will still be partying at 10am tomorrow morning!. We didn't think beyond today. If it stayed wet, we might have a look at Listowel and, if it doesn't, he'll go to grass.

Cork Sat, 8th May, 2021  Gallowglass He ran during Christmas but the deep ground was beating him so we put him away for nice ground. He is a smashing horse and the ground is important to him. His owner (William Fitzgerald) passed away a few weeks ago and nearly lifted him home today.