Down Royal Fri, 27th Aug, 2021  Rich Belief He probably wants that trip. I'd say the experience has definitely stood to him - dropping back from a handicap to a maiden. I don't usually like doing that but I thought it would be ideal around a big, galloping track with his experience. He just seemed to travel far easier over that trip, everything just happened a little bit slower for him. He's not very big. He gets a mile and six on the flat. I thought about coming back here next Friday for the two mile one handicap, the 50-80. He's owned by the Keelings who have been very good to me over the years and let me use their gallops when we had no gallops. I'm delighted to get it for them. I'd say we will mix and match with him. He has had a busy enough summer and has been unlucky once or twice.

Bellewstown Tue, 24th Aug, 2021  Fictitious Lady It was a great ride and it was very unlucky for the other horse to be chinned,. Someone said to me 'did you get up?' and I said 'I definitely got up anyway but I don't know what one won!'. It's well deserved, she was bred by John Fagan and his son Peter in Deerpark Stud. We've been trying to get a win with this filly for a long time and finally got one, thank God. We'll try and find a bit of black-type for the rest of the year. She would have got a lot of confidence there because she's been chinned twice herself. Billy said she loved it in behind, and she dictated (in previous races) because we wanted to make it but she just sat in the stalls a bit. I'm delighted as it's the first time John has been racing and he was seventy last week so it's a great present for him.

Roscommon Mon, 16th Aug, 2021  Royal Pippen I love the horse, I think he's a good little horse. He loves soft ground and Sam (Ewing) said that was probably quick enough for him. He'll go to Listowel and hopefully he can keep improving, he's only four. He ran a cracker in Listowel last year and that's where he'll go again now.

Tipperary Tue, 1st Jun, 2021  Gyldan She is a very well-bred filly but has been a triumph for perseverance. She has always shown us plenty but has had problems, nothing of any major significance, and hasn't hit the track until now as a four-year-old. We didn't expect her to win first-time out and black-type will be the aim with her at some point. I'd say six (furlongs) is her ideal trip but she is a typical sprinter and has plenty enthusiasm for the game. It is a big step up to win first-time-out and step into a pattern race so we'll find a winners' race or handicap for her next. The long-term aim will be for black-type. We have two horses for Ballylinch and both have won so they'll have to send on more!

Cork Fri, 7th May, 2021  Quarantine Dreams We had a bit of a trust breakdown after he disappointed us at Dundalk as he had been working well. He misbehaved right from the get-go and in the preliminaries was very coltish. He was gelded in the interim, we fitted blinkers and didn't leave anything to chance and won the way he has been working. He has a bit of ability, I don't know where we go next but he'll get an extra furlong for sure. Bill was happy with him and said any time he gave him a crack he went on about his business.