Wexford Thu, 23rd Jul, 2026  Ocean Murphy I met Julie (Thomas, owner) in Doncaster a few years ago and she breeds some top class horses in Newmarket. Her pedigrees are very good and she told me that this horse wasn't a commercial sales horse because he wasn't hugely big, so she offered me to get involved. We went from there and it is fantastic to get a winner with my first horse for Julie. To have an overseas owner having a winner in Ireland is fantastic. We'll keep him handicap hurdling now and we could look at a four-year-old handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe later this year. I thought he wanted a trip but Darragh (O'Keeffe) suggested we drop him back in trip, having ridden him the last day. It's Joanna's first winner for me and she is very loyal and able when Phildelma (Elvin, stable amateur) isn't available.

Roscommon Mon, 6th Jul, 2026  Like An Ocean We thought she had ability, we trained the half-sister and she won a maiden hurdle as well. I thought she’d probably learn a lot today. I suppose a couple of things fell right for her, it was a messy race but she still had to be very gutsy to go out and beat horses with more experience. I think that was the impressive part and we’re delighted with her. For a mare running her first ever race on the track to be that straightforward and not bat an eyelid, I think, was a great sign. Hopefully there are nice things to come in the future with her.

Downpatrick Sun, 14th Jun, 2026  Irish Lace She's nice. She's Warren(Ewing)’s obviously and he had done a lot of work with her over the wintertime. She kind of missed her slot to go in the point-to-points. He had always liked her. He had her at the sales and I looked at her and liked her. He wasn't prepared to take what I was going to give him at that stage!. She just wasn't ready for the point-to-points and Warren gave her to me a couple of months ago. The filly has improved hand over fist the last lot of weeks. You couldn't have faulted today. That nice ground there suited her and she is a good-moving animal. She did it well and she is probably green enough, still a wee bit lonely in front. A lead for longer, she would have hopefully run better. Get a start with her and take it from there. She's only a four-year-old and we'll see if there's something else later in the summer. She's a nice one to go and have a bit of fun with. Hopefully, we can do that. The way she ran there today, you wouldn't be afraid to go in a better bumper with her and give her a chance. Stephen was pretty confident; he has been riding her a fair bit at home there lately.

Punchestown Sun, 7th Jun, 2026  Fairlander I thought he'd run a nice race at the festival here and he just disappointed. So did my other horse in the same race and both of them now have won since. I think they were babies in a big field on the day, so we decided to switch things around and ride them more positive today. He travelled very well and Phidelma gave him a very good ride. He jumped really, really well with her and it's nice that he won for the lads, so he gets a little holiday now. I'd like to thank David L'Estrange, who is a part-owner in the horse. The support that he has given me in the last 18 months is incredible and it's given us a huge amount of confidence. I cannot thank David and his family enough.

Kilbeggan Fri, 15th May, 2026  Little Ginger The owner was very lucky with his half-brother, Dromore Lad, and this lad is obviously going the right way. He’s not over-big but he’s improving the whole time. We’ll see now if Frank sells him or keeps him, he’s a nice little one to have. He battled well and I’m delighted with him. On his first run, Heather (Heffernan - partner) rode him and he was obviously very green. His second run was on very heavy ground in Limerick, which I didn’t think he’d handle. He’s learning as he goes and improving, which is good. We should have plenty of fun with him.

Punchestown Wed, 29th Apr, 2026  Even Tho That was a huge performance,. Rachael Blackmore tipped us off to have a look at her after she fell in her point-to-point and bought her for this client. It’s one of the many talents she has now that she’s given up riding, spotting horses! If she can buy more like her she’ll make a living out of that. It was a good buy by her and we’ll have to give Rachael the plaudits for sourcing this one. It was an extraordinary performance. I was hoping my own filly was creeping up the inside with Derek but when Jody set her alight it was all over in a few strides. We know she jumps, she’s been around a point-to-point course, so we’re looking forward to going novice hurdling, probably next season.

Limerick Tue, 31st Mar, 2026  Even Tho She is still very babyish and I think there is a lot of improvement in her,. It was probably the first time my mare came off the bridle and it took her maybe ten strides to click into gear, but once she did, I was always going to get there and she won hands and heels. She will now go to the Grade 3 bumper at the Punchestown festival and I think she will be much sharper the next time. . She has a proper national hunt, staying pedigree and while we weren't afraid of 2m3f, she isn't slow either. Pat Doyle recommended her highly and she has a bright future.

Limerick Tue, 31st Mar, 2026  Even Tho She is still very babyish and I think there is a lot of improvement in her,. It was probably the first time my mare came off the bridle and it took her maybe ten strides to click into gear, but once she did, I was always going to get there and she won hands and heels. She will now go to the Grade 3 bumper at the Punchestown festival and I think she will be much sharper the next time. . She has a proper national hunt, staying pedigree and while we weren't afraid of 2m3f, she isn't slow either. Pat Doyle recommended her highly and she has a bright future.