Quotes on My Mate Alfie (IRE)

He's been very consistent all year and the blinkers have transformed him. He gets seven and the first furlong had me worried as they did 15 seconds and I thought it would turn into a sprint and they'd out-do him for speed. At home he's bomb-proof and you can do whatever you like but if you run him here without blinkers he just parks and won't do a thing. The blinkers are the difference between winning and losing. It's great for Austin (Whelan) and all his gang, he's called after his son Alfie. I say they'll take a while to get home tonight. We aimed to have three winners this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I said if we don't win this it's all on the Derby and I don't think that's going to happen!. He's in the Stewards Cup' because it's a £250,000 race. I was fourth in it with a filly many years ago. I was also just chinned in an Ayr Gold Cup, I wanted to be the first Irish trainer to win it. Those are two races that are on my agenda. I don't think he's good enough but we'll see. We're always talking about prize-money. You've got the Wokingham that's worth £150,000 and the Stewards' Cup that is £250,000 so if you are serious about prize-money you have to partake.
After My Mate Alfie (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sun, 30th Jun 2024 6f Flat Good

Quotes on Shandy (IRE)

She ran well in the Listed race here the last day (in sixth) and won the race on her side. We were drawn 11 and 12 and the middle is the worse place to be, so we took a chance and it worked out. The ease in the ground helped as she needs an ease in the ground. We tried different things with hoods as she over-raced once or twice and it all came together today.
After Shandy (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 25th Aug 2024 5f Flat Good to Yielding

Quotes on Tango Flare (IRE)

Obviously with him winning it last year it was an ideal race to come back here for,. We'll probably go the same route and go back to the Curragh for the Listed race that he was fourth in last year. He was unlucky not to get the black-type last year and you'd be hoping this year with being stronger and more mature he has a chance of getting it. He's holding his form well and he's not too far off it. We tried him over seven on his first run back this season, to see would he get it, but he doesn't. He's a six furlong horse. We dropped him back to six at the Curragh, he missed the break but we were delighted with how he ran on to get fourth. If he had jumped he'd probably have been closer. He was top of the weights that day and it'd hard for him. At least in a Listed race he'll be off level weights. If he can get a length improvement we'll have the black-type.
After Tango Flare (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Fri, 7th Jun 2024 6f Flat Good

Quotes on The Highway Rat (IRE)

He had a very nice run on the opening day of the season (at the Curragh in March) which we thought was on very unsuitable heavy ground. He was beaten off top-weight and we were delighted, and we thought this was his season. Then he had a setback and we are just getting him out now. We thought he was plenty short for today, but it was just opportunity. He did that well and Billy was delighted with him. It all went straightforward and to plan.
After The Highway Rat (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 2nd Sep 2023 5f Flat Hcap Yielding

Quotes on Torivega (IRE)

That was pure relief. Robbie gave him an absolutely class ride as you have to be really ballsy to sit there for so long although he said he wasn't ballsy enough to sit that way to the line!. I've been pitching him in at the deep end but I actually learned a lot about him in France so the trip wasn't a complete waste of time - and we had a lovely time! Deauville was my fault as I had asked David Egan (jockey) wrongly to go up front and he said afterwards that he'd have ridden him differently. We learnt from that and he is trying to race too much but is only a three-year-old and actually takes a lot of work. He is hard on himself because he is heavy. Viztoria (the winner's Group 2-winning dam) was a pinhook who we couldn't sell and Ado McGuinness and Eddie Lynam trained her, but it was almost by default that I got into training. Viztoria suckered John (Lavery, brother) into ownership and it was happy days for me. She has got Invincible Spirit and Sea The Stars foals on the ground and is in-foal to New Bay.
After Torivega (IRE) finished 1st at Cork on Fri, 28th Jul 2023 6f Flat Maiden Good

Quotes on Follow Me (FR)

He's a fair horse, everything went wrong that could go wrong and he still weaved his way through. Three down I was like 'oh no', it was like watching a horror movie. Billy was so cool on him, he got his spots and got out. It's onwards and upwards with him, it's exciting to have him. They are two lovely horses (Dance Night Andday who won yesterday) that have won this weekend. They both worked on Tuesday morning and you'd think coming here that both of them would run well, but you'd hardly think on Guineas weekend both of them would win. Tom Malone bought him in France and it was a great buy for Amanda (Torrens). Unfortunately, she couldn't be here today, she had to go to the north for another engagement. She was roaring the phone down and she's delighted. We'll see what the handicapper does, he's 93 today and, if there was another handicap on Derby weekend that we could eke out of him, that's a possibility. He's very versatile ground-wise and it's just lovely to have a good horse. He's a big horse with loads of scope. When he came off the lorry to us, and given his two-year-old form, he came off like a big scopey horse and not a horse that was all about two. He's simple enough at home, likes his routine. I feel sorry for Shane Foley as he's ridden all his work and won his maiden on him. He was mad to ride him but had to ride for Jessie (Harrington) and then that horse (Matter Of Fact) was taken out. He is Shane's ride.
After Follow Me (FR) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 25th May 2024 7f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Strike Red (IRE)

he's been a good horse to me and a good horse to the yard. He keeps picking up these premier handicaps and I'm absolutely delighted. I was confident, the guv'nor said 'you've got a good draw so just keep down the stand's side'. I didn't think Ripon was really suited to him - the ground was a little bit quick the last day. He likes coming through horses and he was always playing in the race really. When he gets there he probably doesn't do a lot, he just pricks his lugs. He enjoys those big runner handicaps and it's great to see him win. I just tried to pick my time and execute the plan.
After Strike Red (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 22nd Jul 2023 6f Flat Hcap Soft

Quotes on Kendall Roy (GB)

I felt sorry for Chris (Hayes, jockey of runner-up So Majestic) as I didn't know which horse to pick. I thought the quicker five furlongs and the faster ground would suit So Majestic more but both horses ran blinders. I didn't know which horse I wanted to win!. Kendall Roy was too lazy the last day but Declan (McDonogh) was on the ball today and had him tuned in. Even though he broke the track record over five furlongs at Windsor, I thought he might need stepping up to six as he is so lazy. Kendall Roy is a fat, gross horse and while I don't give him hardship at home, he wants loads of running, all the time. He is in at Goodwood next week so whether or not he'll run, I don't know. As gross as he is, he is a next year's horse. both horses came from breeze up sales and I ended up buying them back; So Majestic was the second-fastest in her sale and I had loved Kendall Roy since he was a yearling and his mind was always so good. My main game is the breeze-ups and I won't diverge from that, but I have another few two-year-olds which I am left with. That's the only reason I ever got out my trainers' license, it is a hobby and is bringing a lot of joy to our household at the minute.
After Kendall Roy (GB) finished 1st at Cork on Fri, 26th Jul 2024 5f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Heavenly Power (IRE)

He’s bred to be a better horse than that as he’s a half-brother to Slade Power.
After Heavenly Power (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 8th Oct 2022 6f Flat Hcap Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Over The Blues (IRE)

Over The Blues did that pretty well and as Luke (McAteer, winning jockey) said it a matter of getting from A to B with her. She was green first time and while she is normally pretty good coming out of stalls, she was in there for a long time and missed the break a little bit. Luke had to get after her then to hold a position but that lit her up and then she maybe didn't see out the six fully from being keen. She gets six (furlongs) no problem but in saying that you could easily drop her back to five. They are a speedy family, four have won maidens for us but this is the only one which could go over five. They are all very different although this is very different to the rest of them as she's probably the strongest and being a sprinter, all she'll do is improve. It's a fair broodmare that Jim (Browne, owner/breeder) has. there is a conditions race in Tipperary next week but I'd say that might be a bit quick for her and there is a Listed race back here in a month's time over this trip so that would seem to be ideal for her. We don't mind stepping her up in class and that's probably an ideal option.
After Over The Blues (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Wed, 26th Jun 2024 5f Flat Maiden Good

Quotes on Apricot Ice (IRE)

You can see by the size of her she's still on the leg. We ran her in a Listed race at Leopardstown last year, that's what we thought of her. She's only going to get better with age. She's turned a wee corner there, she won her maiden and she's backed it up today. I'd say we only got away with it on the ground. She's all about top of the ground and, if the race was in two races time, I'd say we would have been in trouble. Colin still maintains that she'll get seven, but we'll keep doing this with the hope that she improves as a four-year-old. Obviously, the aim is that they grow into black-type fillies and I'd say that will happen at four.
After Apricot Ice (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 29th Jun 2024 6f Flat Hcap Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Arnhem (IRE)

We're over the moon, that's brilliant. You couldn't ask for a nicer place to have a winner. We've had him from May. He's had brilliant form in the past and he deserves that win, he's been too long without a win and he's had such good runs. He's such a good horse. He has a lovely temperament and he's a brilliant wee horse to have anything to do with. We only have him and another one as part of the syndicate for David, that's all and a couple of breakers.
After Arnhem (IRE) finished 1st at Curragh on Sat, 26th Aug 2023 6f Flat Hcap Good

Quotes on Sturlasson (IRE)

I shouldn't have run him the last day and I take the rap for that. I should sat tight a bit longer. His work during the week was spectacular. He skipped along there and he loved it. It was a real professional performance and I'm delighted. We'll see what happens, the lads are saying they might go for the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap in Royal Ascot on the Friday. He was 90 coming here and, realistically, he probably shouldn't go up for it. I'd say he is in and around that.
After Sturlasson (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 18th May 2024 5f Flat Maiden Good to Yielding