After race at Galway Fri, 4th Aug, 2023 (1st)  It's sad as the owner Brian passed away last September, it's hard that way because he's a cousin of mine and his wife sadly misses him. He was a great man and loved this horse and he would have loved this. He loved him and was a great man for the game. He took bad news really well, he was a real shrewd, good man and he's just gone too soon. He was a great man to have around the place. He finds plenty, he's tough. Robbie realised they didn't go hard and didn't know whether to go on and then it was tactical. You always have to respect Willies'. It was a good race, it was a proper race for here and a good race for no money as the man says!. The rain came, he's not the easiest to train but when he's right he's good. I threw him into the Shergar Cup in Ascot next week but he'll be last to get into it as it's a 0-100 and he's 102. We'll see, he might go there. If not he might go back to York on the Wednesday for the two-mile. Last year the ground went a bit quick for him on the Saturday (in the Ebor) and it was probably the wrong thing to do (run him) but we were there. It was a good thing in a way because that was the last time Brian seen him. He's brilliant, he's the best horse I've ever had. He's a classy horse, I just need a few more of them. He knows he's good and he's spoilt rotten. He's nine but he won his bumper when he was five so he doesn't have much mileage either. Karl Thornton

After race at Galway Fri, 29th Jul, 2022 (1st)  It is grand to get that out of the way as he has had a bad six months. It was a good performance as it has been an awful year for him. He has been sick since running in York (last August), I've been trying to get him right and I've had to be patient. I wanted to get a run into him before going back to York and this place was ideal, with the ground. He just hadn't been himself and people were asking me why I hadn't ran him but I knew if we came here we'd get safe ground to get him started. He will also be entered for the Irish Cesarewitch. Karl Thornton

After race at Curragh Wed, 2nd Jun, 2021 (1st)  We brought him over to England (for the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock) but he didn’t travel well and we knew our fate well before the race as he didn’t eat and didn’t drink. The travelling left its mark and I was in two minds whether to run him or not here. Robbie rode him last Thursday and said he was fine. He must be a very good horse as Robbie said he was behind the bridle today but he battled really well. He said the ground was as quick as he’d want it. He’s in Listowel on Sunday but I wouldn’t think he will go. He won three bumpers in England but he got a fall over hurdles in Catterick and maybe that was just on his mind when he travelled the last day. The money in the Ebor is very tempting and maybe we could fly him over! Karl Thornton

After race at Fairyhouse Mon, 5th Apr, 2021 (1st)  He's a classy horse. I'd say he is probably still learning his trade over hurdles. John (Barry) rode him the last day, he gave him a super ride and taught him plenty. He was always going to need the run in Down Royal [when fourth on St Patrick's Day] but I just thought it would suit him fine to go there and come here after. Off 97 I still think he's well handicapped on the Flat. We'll go back to the Flat now and we'll target a lot of those premier handicaps. We'll maybe target Ascot or one of those places and one of those two-mile races. Karl Thornton

After race at Killarney Sun, 4th Oct, 2020 (1st)  The ground was probably too quick for him at Leopardstown and he needed three runs to run in the November Handicap and that's where he'll go now; he also probably needed the six or seven pounds (for winning today) to get into it. He'll go back over hurdles as well and he'll go on winter ground but maybe not on extremes. He is still learning his trade and he beat seasoned handicappers today. He is a smasher and it just makes no sense to me that he won three bumpers and I never got a phone call for him. You couldn't fault the horse at all and he's a nice one to have. Karl Thornton

After race at Tipperary Fri, 26th Jun, 2020 (1st)  he is still a little bit green; I brought him to England for hurdles experience after winning his three bumpers but he got brought down. It was the ideal and right thing to do with him but experience-wise, he just needed a couple of runs. The reason I ran him back so quick (after winning at Limerick) was there was nothing for him for five or six weeks and we were going to get safe ground today. I don't know what it is, but my horses don't seem to go around sharp tracks so he will probably avoid Galway with him; it's all about winners and we'll go where we can get one. I can't see him getting too much for winning today and we could also nip over to England if he is allowed travel. Karl Thornton

After race at Limerick Wed, 17th Jun, 2020 (1st)  He is a very smart horse, always was. He won three bumpers and there were plenty of horses behind him in his bumpers,. I'd have been very disappointed if he was beaten tonight and I'd say he'll mix it between flat and hurdles now. He'd go 2m4f over hurdles but he just wasn't himself over hurdles last winter, he had a bad fall and it half knocked him. He could be a proper horse on the flat. Karl Thornton