Punchestown Sun, 17th Nov, 2019  Stormy Ireland She did it well and the conditions of the race suited her, . She jumped very big because she had been schooling over fences.

Punchestown Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  The Big Getaway Patrick thought an extra half mile would be no problem and softer ground no problem. He looks a really nice type. He’s probably as big as Douvan, maybe even bigger. We’re going to remeasure him on Monday to find out and he’s certainly one of the biggest horses I’ve had anything to do with. Patrick said he just gallops all day. I’m told that is Patrick’s 600th winner. Just another 400 to go! I'm level with Ted Walsh on eleven amateur titles so it would be nice to add to that. My best total in a calendar year was 74 winners in 2012 which beat the previous best by Billy Parkinson (72 wins in 1915).

Punchestown Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Blue Sari He jumped well but was very free early on. I’m happy that he will improve a fair bit from that, and he can come back in trip. The Royal Bond will probably come too quick so we might wait until Christmas. He looks a nice type and is only four. A faster run race over a shorter trip will suit him. He’s a nice ride at home and I’m looking forward to him for the season.

Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Blue Sari I wanted to run him last weekend, but a complication arose and I couldn’t run him, which was disappointing. He’s ready for action and two and a half miles should be OK. He jumps well, so we’re very happy.

Punchestown Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Saldier We’ve always liked Saldier but it was just whether he would come back from his injury. His nose was in bits but we decided not to have it operated on and let nature take its course. We had the same trouble with Briar Hill but operating on him didn’t work. His run in the Fishery Lane (upsides Espoir D'allen when falling at the last) showed us he could be Grade 1 material. He quickened up well at the last and won like a nice horse. Hopefully they will all improve. Klassical Dream threw himself at the first hurdle and then he was just too keen. I think he’ll improve from that, and a stronger gallop will help them all too. Patrick was never happy on Sharjah. I’d imagine he wanted the run badly and he’d want better ground. It has been a lucky race for us but not always with the first string but they are all there doing their best and that’s what happens.

Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Saldier He was probably showing us more at home (than other Supreme winners). I think he’s ready, we’re happy enough — he seems to do plenty at home and we’ve been aiming him at this race,. It was an easy decision to stay over hurdles — for me anyway. It’s easier to keep them sound over hurdles. I think it (Champion Hurdle) does (look open) and I think if you have a horse that looks like a Champion Hurdle horse, you should go down this road, rather than novice chasing. With Saldier, we go back to the last hurdle in Naas where he fell — he had every chance there. He broke his nose quite badly and took a long time to recover. His nose was shattered — it wasn’t just a fracture across, it broke into half a dozen pieces or more maybe. We had the option of operating, but I said no because my only other experience of something similar was with Briar Hill and he needed three or four and by the time it healed he was finished, so we left it to heal. I wasn’t really happy with him at the end of last year, but I’m much happier now. I think he’s back to normal and back in good shape. Sharjah’s also ready to go to. All three run because the only other option is the Fighting Fifth and I’m happier to go just up the road.

Punchestown Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Faugheen He was brilliant over the first half dozen until he made that mistake —it was probably the first ditch that he’d seen!. Paul said he just put down and tried to do what he does over hurdles which is gallop out through it. Now he realises that you can’t do that and by the time he got over the last to Paul was very happy with him. He showed a nice turn of foot when he had to ask him to race going down to the last and after it. The engine certainly seemed to be there. I’m happy that we got today out of the way and we’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding where we go next.

Sat, 16th Nov, 2019  Faugheen I wanted to run him last weekend, but a complication arose and I couldn’t run him, which was disappointing. He’s ready for action and two and a half miles should be OK. He jumps well, so we’re very happy.

Clonmel Thu, 14th Nov, 2019  Tactical Move It was great to win a bumper with him and I don't think we're going to go for a winners' bumper with him. He'll go straight hurdling now and will go chasing then next season. It's not normally what we do but he missed last year and we only got to run him once. He is a horse I want to get out over fences sooner rather than later. We're trying to fit bumper horses from last year into hurdles and get them all going and get the season going.

Clonmel Thu, 14th Nov, 2019  Vis Ta Loi Vis Ta Loi is a horse who hides his light under a bushel, but the only thing we did know coming here was that he was a brilliant jumper. I said to Danny don't be afraid to make the running,. He is a chaser in the making and we've been disappointed with him at home but when we started schooling him we saw he had ability. He had some small problem last year and I didn't want to go and win a novice late in the season and wanted to keep him a novice for this year. He'll be lovely for this year but the sooner we get to fences the better. We didn't know between my two runners today and the other horse (K'chou Du Pecos Aa) would probably be better than him at home but this fellow's jumping was way better. K'chou Du Pecos Aa was keen in behind and I'd imagine both horses will want a trip in the future.

Clonmel Thu, 14th Nov, 2019  Kalanisi Og Thanks to the boys (Lions Mouth Racing Club) and to Paul (Townend) for letting me ride the mare; I know the owners quite well and a winner now is the same as a winner in April towards the Championship, so it was no harm to take it when the chance was there,. Her hurdling is still novicey but I think it will improve the faster she goes and today we were only hacking around. She seemed to handle that ground, it is deep but quite loose. I'd imagine we'll look for a mares' Listed hurdle next and we could look across the water and see what's over there. The turnout was disappointing but the idea behind the race is a good idea. There should be plenty of mares sold for less than E30,000 and I think when people saw that, it'll grow, and that is the point of it. I don't think it should be judged by its first or second running. Over time it will serve a very good purpose. Today was the first ride I've used this season against professionals (on non-family owned horses) and I have 20 of those rides left until the season ends in April/May.

Navan Sun, 10th Nov, 2019  Bacardys . He looked fantastic in the parade ring beforehand and had a great coat on him. Myself and Willie had a bit of an argument about three weeks ago as he wanted to school him over fences and I was saying he should stay over hurdles. We won one argument with him which is unusual!. He ran very well in the spring in those staying hurdles but was always coming off a bad chasing preparation. Hopefully now with a full season over hurdles he can be competitive in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He probably has the speed for the Hatton's Grace and maybe the Aintree Hurdle as well. All those options are open. He'll probably go for the Hatton's Grace now and then the three-mile hurdles in Leopardstown at Christmas. We'll probably leave the chasing alone now. He's much more comfortable jumping hurdles. Patrick Mullins, representing

Naas Sat, 9th Nov, 2019  Cilaos Emery that was very impressive for a horse with such little experience. Ornua is obviously a Grade 1 winner and we were getting a lot of weight. He wasn’t going to be easy to place this year with just one run as a novice. I’m not sure what the plan is now but he has a lot of ability and will probably be kept to two miles for the moment. He’s only had two runs over fences and maybe it would be best to take baby steps and get more experience into him. Today was an ideal race with just four runners and they were well spread out. His jumping has always been good.

Cork Sun, 3rd Nov, 2019  Brahma Bull he continually surprises us as he doesn't do an awful lot at home but he has a fantastic pedigree and is by Presenting. Brian deserves a lot of credit because he got the horse jumping spectacularly well in front. Brian won a beginners chase on him at Tipperary and that's what got him on him today and he is a very under-rated jockey. He comes in two or three work morning a week to us. I don't where we go now but obviously to all those Grade 2 or Grade 1 chases. He hadn't been an easy horse to train in his early career and didn't run until he was six. He is more mature now and is taking his training better.

Down Royal Sat, 2nd Nov, 2019  Janidil We thought he was nicely handicapped so came down this route which we wouldn't normally do. I'm very pleased as he handled the ground well and jumped well. His jumping has improved and he had clear air in front today. He has a lot of experience coming from France. He had run in a handicap in France and I think that probably made a big difference just being up there out of trouble. He also had to have the ability to be up there out of trouble which he seems to have off his rating anyway. He'll improve through the season. We'll see what the handicapper does but he can do either (go down the novice route or handicapping). We'll have a look at how the novices are faring out. I won't make a real plan today, we will see what happens the next few weeks.