Cork Sat, 10th May, 2025  Cameletta Vega everyone knows the family and while Cameletta Vega has some of their quirks, seems to have their ability as well. They are a good family, come in all shapes and sizes and we’d be worried if we had one of the family without quirks. she was having a little look in front although was looking for the next jump and wanted to take them on, and she enjoyed it. She had been disappointing in bumpers but I think hurdling brings the best out in her.

Punchestown Sat, 3rd May, 2025  Jade De Grugy She stays well but at least I was able to pull the trigger then from the front end when I wanted to. She jumped great, she's a dinger. She has plenty of size about her too if you wanted to jump a fence she'll have no bother. She’s a mare that’s been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant. Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it. We’re delighted to be able to win a Grade 1 with a filly like this. I’d say we’ll probably train her for the Mares’ Hurdle next year.

Punchestown Sat, 3rd May, 2025  Shanbally Kid He's just a little horse that, always over hurdles, I actually thought he was going to run a big race in a Coral Cup one year going to Cheltenham and never fulfilled that. He loves a bit of room; he's a little bit timid I suppose and being out there on his own he's just relished it and what a feeling you know, That trip, getting a bit of space away from horses and typical of Willie, you know, placed him right. I said to Willie I want to keep space on him and he said .if you think he'll jump for you doing that, go ahead and do it.

Punchestown Fri, 2nd May, 2025  State Man it’s the performance we always thought he had in him. In fairness to Constitution Hill I think he didn’t turn up on the day: it’s very hard to travel from England after having two falls and things just didn’t go right for him. Our fella has run his true race and that’s been a constant thing in his racing life, he always turns up and runs his race. He’s just very genuine without ever being flashy. I think the cheekpieces have made him a bit flashier than he used to be. He’s a lazy horse and cheekpieces just help him. I think we were all waiting for this contest and it delivered. We’re just delighted.

Punchestown Fri, 2nd May, 2025  Final Demand it was an awesome performance over that trip, for that horse. Paul felt he didn’t go fast enough in Cheltenham and said to Caroline (Tilsdale, part-owner) ‘today I’m going to show him off’. I saw him jumping the first and second hurdles but wasn’t happy that he was jumping well until he jumped the third. He was then getting lengths at his hurdles and for a big chaser (type) to jump the way he did when it mattered, he was electric. I thought he was going to tire due to the pace but then he’d go down to the hurdle and just take a length out of a horse behind him. If you can jump fences like that he’s one to look forward to. he hasn’t schooled over fences at home but there will be time enough next Autumn. He won his point-to-point so he’s well able to jump. To have this horse with his size and scope, these horses don’t come along too often - if we can just keep him sound. He’s not a horse you’d want to stand on your foot!

Punchestown Fri, 2nd May, 2025  Dinoblue Dinoblue was very good today although I was hoping that Allegorie might get her own back after Cheltenham but it wasn’t going to be that way. Allegorie (a dual Grade 2 winner) is in foal to Jukebox Jury so she’s retired now. Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better and hopefully we have her for next season. I don’t see her going to stud for a while yet.

Punchestown Thu, 1st May, 2025  Majborough He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn’t go right for him in Cheltenham but he’s redeemed himself today. He’s a huge, big horse but he’s very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn’t one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn’t have galloped him one more time. He’s only five and hopefully he’ll mature this summer. I’m looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years. What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.

Punchestown Wed, 30th Apr, 2025  Jasmin De Vaux He just does it when he has to. He's not the world's best jumper. Paul asked him for a big one at the last, he gave it to him but he nearly tipped him out of the saddle. It was great jockeyship by Paul to stay in the saddle. It's a fantastic achievement to get that done, get the job done. He did what needed to be done. He's got a huge engine, maybe he'll jump fences better - I don't know. If you can just get him near the winning post, get him over his hurdles without losing too much ground he's able to make it up on the flat.

Punchestown Wed, 30th Apr, 2025  Kaid D'authie I was happy enough going to the second last, he wouldn't be the quickest horse but he gallops all day. I could hear the lads coming to me into the straight. When we straightened up I just kept him balanced and he quickened on well to the end. We took all the gear off his head and put cheekpieces on instead. We put on an ordinary snaffle instead of a chifney as we thought less interference in his mount might help him jump better. I’m not sure that worked but at least he had a cut at his hurdles anyhow. He has no regard for them, we think he'll be a lot better over fences. He has a huge engine and he'll be suited by three miles. He's about 17 hands, which is a huge horse, and you wouldn’t want him standing on you anyway. He'll have far more respect for a fence.

Punchestown Tue, 29th Apr, 2025  Wonderful Everyday This filly had been doing everything right at home but I didn’t know how good she was and Maith An Buachaill also ran well. They were both at the back passing the winning post so they ran crackers. It’s great when someone in the yard rides a winner at one of the big meetings and Ruth has ridden one or two winners for us before so it’s great for her. A couple of the others were disappointing, but they will make into nice bumper horses for next year. We were hoping that Leader Des Bordes might follow in the footsteps of his brother.

Punchestown Tue, 29th Apr, 2025  Champ Kiely Unbelievable. Again, Willie's mastery. This fella, he never really attacked when the loose horse upset him in Fairyhouse last week. But in fairness to Willie, he wasn't afraid to come back here. Knew the variable was stepping up five furlongs in trip and there was every chance he'd go and do that. I knew Paul was the horse to beat. The Gigginstown one was going to play a part but we got the better of him off the bend and yeah he is a good horse to put it to bed nicely. For me, I'm just so lucky to be part of the team in Willie's. I'm just blessed to be on the team and get to ride some of the good ones on these days.

Punchestown Tue, 29th Apr, 2025  Irancy We took all the gear off Salvator Mundi today and it worked as far as his jumping was concerned but he just got running too fast and they couldn’t keep that up. Paul knowing how good Salvator Mundi is couldn’t let him go. Irancy has always been a good horse and met with a setback after winning here earlier in the season, but it might have been the best thing to have happened as he came here fresh. I gave Kopek Des Bordes a nice break after Cheltenham and probably gave him too much and should have brought him to somewhere like Ayr or Perth. Looking at him in the parade ring I thought he was carrying too much condition and that showed in today’s pace.

Fairyhouse Sun, 20th Apr, 2025  Aurora Vega Like her mother she’s maturing with age. The family just seems to get better with age, and it looks like she’ll stay further. Quevega had a big heart and she’s breeding mares with a big heart as well.

Cork Sun, 20th Apr, 2025  Mister Policeman it is nice to win a race named in memory of Michael O’Sullivan and Janna (Walsh), who led him up, is Michael’s cousin. This horse was his also Michael's first winner for Willie. Willie said to ride him for speed as he thought he was a quick horse so I had one go at them and he just came alive. It was only a matter of getting over the last fence and he was very impressive. The minute I got my leg into him, it was all over. He obviously won his first few races quite well but was pulled up in a Galway Plate, and another time, but might be back on track now. He isn’t slow and I ‘d say wouldn’t mind coming back in trip either. This is my first ride in these (Rich Ricci) colours and it is great to be asked to ride for these people. Any time jockeys put on those colours you have a chance and fair play to Closutton for putting me up.

Cork Sun, 20th Apr, 2025  Mister Policeman Willie said to ride him for speed as he thought he was a quick horse, so I had one go at them and he just came alive. It was only a matter of getting over the last fence and he was very impressive. The minute I got my leg into him, it was all over. He obviously won his first few races quite well but was pulled up in a Galway Plate and at Punchestown last year, but might be back on track now. This is my first ride in these colours and it is great to be asked to ride for these people. Any time jockeys put on those colours you have a chance and fair play to Closutton for putting me up. Two years ago at the same race meeting Michael rode Mister Policeman to win a hurdle which was his first winner for us, which is uncanny as the same horse wins the race named after him. We all know how good Michael could have been and was going to be.

Fairyhouse Sun, 20th Apr, 2025  Spindleberry She shows a real liking for this place. I thought Danny gave her a lovely ride. Whether she goes on to Punchestown or not we’ll have a look at the programme and see how things are. She’s a nice mare for the future and I think she should be well able to go out to three miles next season. I was a little disappointed with Champ Kiely, but I think he was having to avoid the loose horse and may have taken his eye off it.