Gowran Park Wed, 21st Oct, 2020  Mk Drama It was due but in fairness she’s only had that (heavy) ground twice and was only beaten a head in Limerick. The ground is the biggest factor.

Gowran Park Mon, 19th Oct, 2020  La Joya Her first run was great and I had better plans for her but she disappointed me then. I think she might just have gotten a bit jarred and once she got an ease on her last two runs it seems to have made a huge difference to her. The trip seems to be no problem to her either, she did it the hard way.

Leopardstown Sat, 17th Oct, 2020  Lobo Rojo We thought he was very good in the spring and he was just beaten on his first run. Then everything went wrong in Gowran where he hit his head in the stalls. He started growing and only in the last month have we started to get him right. He did it well and Shane just rode him with hands and heels. He’s a gorgeous, big horse and wants a mile and a half. He has a massive stride and needs a big galloping track. It would be good for him to have another run this year but I don’t know what we will find. He’ll stay in training next year.

Limerick Sat, 10th Oct, 2020  Amlad That is not before time but he did it well. Hopefully we can get another win out of him before the flat season is out and surprisingly for the age of him (six) he has not run on heavy ground before,. It was a bit of an unknown but he handled it well and it opens up options. Hurdling will definitely be on the cards and we originally bought him to go jumping but he hated it. He seems to be jumping better now and should be competitive in handicap hurdles.

Fairyhouse Thu, 1st Oct, 2020  Limit Long It’s a surprise that win took so long as he’s a horse that works extremely well at home. He’s a horse that has been lacking a bit in confidence at times and our apprentice Niamh Bennett has done a marvelous job with him. His form is starting to come together now. He responded well under pressure where in the past he might have curled up. He wants it now and maybe he can win a few more now. I’m delighted for the syndicate as they have been very patient. He’ll go on any ground bar tacky ground. He was drawn on the wrong side at the Curragh the last day and didn’t handle the ground.

Leopardstown Sat, 12th Sep, 2020  Cadillac You'd have to be delighted with him. You saw the real Cadillac there today and he's a lovely horse. He's a horse that just goes through the motions at home, you don't really know how big an engine is in there but it's fairly big. He didn't really learn much the first day but learned a lot the last day, and he did it right there today. It's great for the syndicate, which we started two years ago and this is the second running of it. We're going to go forward with it next year and it's great to have a high-profile horse like this. I'd say all being well his next start will probably be in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Navan Thu, 10th Sep, 2020  Rockview Empress She's gradually been getting the hang of things and the trainer has gradually found what trip she wants as well. She's a big sparely made filly and we hope she is improving. We won't over-race her and then we'll put her away until next year. She's from quite a good family and is a sister to a black-type horse (Great Dancer, a maiden winner for Michael Halford and later Grade 3-placed at Belmont Park) so she has a bit of value as a broodmare anyway. There is still improvement in her and I'm delighted. It's another good ride from the main man.

Leopardstown Thu, 20th Aug, 2020  Cosmic Vega He ran in a barrier trial and ran well in that. That stood to him today,. He probably wants a bit better ground but he got through that today and he's a winner of a maiden so it's great. He's a big baby still and he might come back here at the end of the year for the Eyrefield Stakes.

Curragh Sun, 9th Aug, 2020  Lucky Vega He was good. That's Mr Zhang's first Group 1 winner worldwide. I'm absolutely delighted, for the horse and it's great for Mr Zhang,. He's a nice horse going forward and Shane said he's getting quicker. He probably needed it the last day because he had won his maiden without getting into a battle. The last day when he got into a bit of a battle it just hardened him up. He was much more streetwise and on his work at home he had really started to come to himself. We thought he was working well but you never know until you go racing and everyone said this was a strong renewal. We'll have to sit down and think now but Shane said we'd probably be thinking about the Middle Park. I think he'll get seven as well. Last year was all about the fillies so it's great this year to come up with a good colt.

Naas Wed, 22nd Jul, 2020  Tasalka She had the rating to win, had been working nicely and loved the little ease in the ground. We'll see if we can get a bit of black-type with her, that's the target. I'm very pleased. I'd say that was a good maiden. With fillies at this time of year you are trying to start off and get winning brackets with them first and then see if you can progress. She ran some very good races last year and that's why she is a highly rated filly. I'd be very hopeful of getting black-type with her.

Curragh Fri, 10th Jul, 2020  Carrytheone He’s improving all the time. He’s a big horse and is mentally a bit immature. Shane has done a good job on him. We’ve the hood on him as he’s a bit keen at home, a bit buzzy, but he’s starting to relax into it now. I think whatever he does this year, he’ll be even better next year. The syndicate is from Melbourne and I met them when I was over in Australia. Lope de Vega was doing well over there, so I had this fella to sell to them. It’s their first winner in Ireland and I know they were all looking at the race, so I’m thrilled for them.

Fairyhouse Sun, 5th Jul, 2020  Timemakesitfine We were doing the pre-training for Denis and once COVID happened Denis had 12 ready to go and five ended up in our place nearly ready to go. It was more through necessity than want that they are with me.

Leopardstown Wed, 1st Jul, 2020  Cadillac It’s great to be back and to come back with a winner is even better.

Naas Mon, 8th Jun, 2020  Lucky Vega You would have to be happy with him. He never came off the bridle at home and Shane said he was very green throughout the race. He was on the grass once or twice at home but that was it and they were only steady bits,.