Gowran Park Thu, 25th Jan, 2024  Champagne Platinum It was a very good feeling although I briefly mistook the winning line before thinking 'I may go again'!. I'm very happy that I got the ride from JP (McManus) and Enda, I'm absolutely delighted. Luke has been with us six months, is bred to be a jockey and must be some judge! That's just his second ride over hurdles. Would you believe it, Champagne Platinum beat the horse that just won the Thyestes (Ain't That A Shame) at Navan in 2022, so it took a long time between drinks. Today's race cut up, he ran well in a Pertemps Qualifier the last day and he was racing against lesser horses. We tried him a couple of times in banks racing but the horse isn't in love with it and the ground is a big factor for him.

Gowran Park Thu, 25th Jan, 2024  Champagne Platinum It was a very good feeling although I briefly mistook the winning line before thinking 'I may go again'!. I'm was very happy that I got the ride from JP (McManus) and Enda, I'm absolutely delighted. Luke has been with us six months, is bred to be a jockey and must be some judge! That's just his second ride over hurdles. Would you believe it, Champagne Platinum beat the horse that just won the Thyestes (Ain't That A Shame) at Navan in 2022, so it took a long time between drinks. Today's race cut up, he ran well in a Pertemps Qualifier the last day and he was racing against lesser horses. We tried him a couple of times in banks racing but the horse isn't in love with it and the ground is a big factor for him.

Gowran Park Thu, 25th Jan, 2024  Monkfish He hasn’t missed any training (this season), we just hadn’t got him out, so we were happy his fitness would hold up. We thought he was a Gold Cup horse once upon a time, but that is a great start to his season and hopefully he can build on it now. We were supposed to start him at Tramore on New Year’s Day but he got a little bang, so we decided to wait for this. He is in the Gold Cup and Stayers’ Hurdle but all options are open and it will be a case of what race suits, when he is ready. We won’t rush him back and Cheltenham is only seven weeks away, so he’ll probably go straight there. The decision regarding which race he runs in will be a Willie special. Ruth Dudfield does a fantastic job in keeping him sound and we’ll just hope he is OK in the morning. Touch wood, at his age, he will stand up to it.

Gowran Park Thu, 25th Jan, 2024  Monkfish he hasn't missed any training and we just hadn't got him out so we were happy his fitness would hold up. We thought he was a Gold Cup horse once upon a time but that is a great start to his season and hopefully can build on it now. We were supposed to start him at Tramore on New Year's Day but he got a little bang so we decided to wait for this. He is in the Gold Cup and Stayers Hurdle but all options are open and it will be a case of what race suits, when he is ready. . We won't rush him back and Cheltenham is only seven weeks away so he'll probably go straight there. The decision regarding which race he runs in will be a Willie special. Ruth Dudfield does a fantastic job in keeping him sound and we'll just hope he is ok in the morning. Touch wood, at his age, he will stand up to it.

Gowran Park Thu, 25th Jan, 2024  Monkfish He hasn’t missed any training (this season), we just hadn’t got him out, so we were happy his fitness would hold up. We thought he was a Gold Cup horse once upon a time, but that is a great start to his season and hopefully he can build on it now. We were supposed to start him at Tramore on New Year’s Day but he got a little bang, so we decided to wait for this. He is in the Gold Cup and Stayers’ Hurdle but all options are open and it will be a case of what race suits, when he is ready. We won’t rush him back and Cheltenham is only seven weeks away, so he’ll probably go straight there. The decision regarding which race he runs in will be a Willie special. Ruth Dudfield does a fantastic job in keeping him sound and we’ll just hope he is OK in the morning. Touch wood, at his age, he will stand up to it.

Punchestown Sun, 31st Dec, 2023  Clonmeen The horses were all sick for about six weeks and it’s great to see them back in form. That was tight for comfort, but it was a tough performance, and the main thing is he won. We might think about something like the National Trial back here.