Quotes on Gerri Colombe (FR)

We were delighted with him – we knew there would be improvement in him today, his first run in open company. As Brian (Acheson, of owner Robcour) said, he only came back in on September 19, so there’s loads of improvement. We’ll have one run now and then the Gold Cup. He showed that he is in the mix now for the Gold Cup, he stays very well and that’s what you need. I was delighted that he settled into a rhythm, the other horse (Conflated) was going a bit left and was taking Jack’s horse’s eye off the fence a bit. I was a bit worried the whole way because Conflated does go left, but I did tell Jack to give him a bit of light and get him into a rhythm. Jack said he was a bit rusty early, but I thought he was pretty much foot-perfect apart from one for a novice stepping into open company. The sky is the limit. He’s a great horse because he shows you absolutely nothing at home – he’s very laid-back, he’s a gentleman.
After Gerri Colombe (FR) finished 1st at Down Royal on Sat, 11th Nov 2023 3m Chase Soft

Quotes on Grangeclare West (IRE)

I didn’t expect that now – I thought he would run well, but that was a top race. Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he’d want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground and win like that going away was a huge performance. His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul’s hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally. He’s just a natural chaser.
After Grangeclare West (IRE) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Fri, 29th Dec 2023 3m Novice Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Capodanno (FR)

I felt coming out of Cheltenham we didn't do the right thing. Having a chat with Mark today, he was thinking the same way as I was and he wanted to be positive and that suited me. We always thought that he stayed, it was just about the right way to ride him. Jessie's horse (Harrington, Lifetime Ambition) took us along and when he didn't jump the fence down the back great, our fella went past and winged it. Mark got a little breather after the fourth last and he was very happy with him. In the bigger races we hadn't been bold enough and today was the day just to be bold and see what happens. It worked out and hopefully we might have a Gold Cup horse on our hands. He gallops and jumps and usually the Gold Cup is on good ground, that'll do us. He does everything right but he looks to just gallop and jump and when you stop him doing that you're not making maximum use of him.
After Capodanno (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Tue, 26th Apr 2022 3m Novice Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Saint Sam (FR)

Granny would have enjoyed that and it’s a pity that she’s not here to be in the (winning) picture,. It was a great performance and great to have the owners Ed and Mary Ware here. The Red Mills Chase was one of the races we pinpointed at the start of the year. Small fields suit him – he likes to get on with things and wears the hood. He’s hot and we were a bit worried that he’d be a bit fresh on his first run and do too much on the heavy ground. Paul got a few breathers into him. Those Grade Twos or Grade Threes are where he’s most comfortable and he could go to Fairyhouse. He is a better chaser than he was a hurdler and loves jumping.
After Saint Sam (FR) finished 1st at Gowran Park on Sat, 17th Feb 2024 2m 4f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Embassy Gardens (GB)

That was a really good performance and what I like about this horse is that he really loves jumping. When he sees a fence, he wants to jump it and that’s a huge asset in this game. He jumps, he stays and does everything right. He’s learned to settle now and is much easier to ride. He looks a natural for staying chasing and he’ll go for one of the staying chases in Cheltenham.
After Embassy Gardens (GB) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 28th Jan 2024 3m Novice Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Minella Indo (IRE)

Minella Indo has given us so many great days and I’m delighted to see him start his season like that. His work was really good, but it was also good before the Gold Cup and it just didn’t happen for him there. It was a messy start and it just didn’t happen for him. He jumped from fence to fence today, his ears were pricked and Rachael said he really enjoyed it. I’m also delighted that Barry (Maloney, owner) is here as well. We entered him in the north (Down Royal's Champion Chase) but that’s only a couple of weeks away, so we’ll see. We can enjoy today and decide in the next couple of weeks. the Grand National is something we can discuss. Coming here after the Gold Cup run, we couldn’t make any big plans but we’re really encouraged now for the rest of the season.
After Minella Indo (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Wed, 11th Oct 2023 2m 7f Chase Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Appreciate It (IRE)

it was the same as the last day and you'd love to get a lead on him as he's idle in front. I was trying to teach him today, and win, without doing something silly. He showed me the last day that he's there when I need him. It's grand to get him out again and you'd have to be happy with everything he's doing. Every day is experience for him.
After Appreciate It (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 8th Jan 2023 2m Novice Chase Soft

Quotes on Classic Getaway (IRE)

We went a good, even gallop with a good horse (Aspire Tower) leading and he showed a good turn of foot from the back of the last. He is more professional and has more options over fences because he is maturing. Hopefully he will be an Arkle type – we went a good strong pace, he has a good cruising speed and stays too. It was very straightforward and he settled well. The others had had runs already this year so, on the flat, I was conscious not to do too much with him and his jumping put him back into the race. He quickened up, lengthened nicely to the last and sorted himself out and he jumped brilliantly. He has a lot of natural ability.
After Classic Getaway (IRE) finished 1st at Thurles on Thu, 30th Nov 2023 2m 6f Chase Yielding

Quotes on Conflated (IRE)

It was unfortunate that A Plus Tard couldn’t run. The race worked out well and Jack gave him a beautiful ride. Paul (Townend) steadied the pace down the pace and Jack let him stride on. He said the faster this horse goes the better he’ll be. I thought Jack was wonderful. He’s not an easy horse and he’s actually starting to settle now. He was very kinky and Jack said he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way up the straight. He jumped perfect all the way. We don’t gallop him a whole lot and he just does his routine work each day. We left him very short in Down Royal and Jack was thrilled and said he’d come on an awful lot from it. I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Irish Gold Cup but we’ll have to talk to Michael (O’Leary, owner) and Eddie and make a plan. It’s great for Michael and Anita as it’s their first time to come racing this season and they are big supporters of Cullentra. They have backed me from day one. There was a lot of talk last season about which race he would go for in Cheltenham but he’ll definitely be going for the Gold Cup this year.
After Conflated (IRE) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Wed, 28th Dec 2022 3m Chase Soft

Quotes on Heart Wood (FR)

I'm delighted, he is a lovely horse and he has done brilliant. I'm delighted to get it for Robcour. Darragh was good on him, he jumped well and he picked up well.
After Heart Wood (FR) finished 1st at Wexford on Mon, 28th Oct 2024 2m 7f Chase Soft

Quotes on Minella Cocooner (IRE)

It was a huge improvement from his first run but obviously he'd had a long time off with injuries. He jumped spectacular there and seemed a lot more settled than he was in his hurdling days. Paul was delighted with him.
After Minella Cocooner (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 20th Jan 2024 3m Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Minella Crooner (IRE)

He's a tough horse who came out of a good home in John Nallen's. The race suited and he seemed to get his own way. He dug in well on the run-in and Sam was very good on him. He dropped his whip so thank God he won. He's a very good rider.
After Minella Crooner (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Sat, 4th May 2024 3m Hcap Chase Soft