Downpatrick Mon, 15th Jul, 2024  Rauzan He's been running on soft ground and probably wants a bit of better ground. He travelled well here the last day and fell at the third-last - Finny Maguire rode him and he thought he had plenty of horse left. Banking on that, we were hoping for a good run but he stayed at it well, in fairness. We did think he would run a nice race. Tramore or something like that next, maybe keep it local. It is a long way up here today, he's in Killarney on Thursday and I don't think he'll run - it's a long way from here to Killarney!. We'll see how he is and make a plan from there. I think he is a horse that will improve.

Downpatrick Mon, 15th Jul, 2024  Rauzan I suppose the conditions of the race and the weights (suited). Phillip said he nearly found traffic even with four runners (hampered by faller Notkeepinyagoing). He's a horse that travels well and stays well which is a good attribute to have. He said he picked up well at the back of the last. He did it well. I've no real plan for him but we might look at Galway. He's a dual-purpose horse and he is only rated 61 on the Flat, so I might look at the Flat as well. He's definitely improving for a four-year-old. He's a horse we bought out of Mick Halford's and was well recommended by Mick, fair play to him.

Curragh Fri, 28th Jun, 2024  Back Down Under I'd like to thank Frank (Berry) and JP and Noreen (McManus) for giving her to us. We leased her out last year. She's been a bit unlucky and we had a bit of stalls work to do with her. Chris rode her yesterday morning and she jumped out well. We thought she'd run well if she jumped and she did, and the step up to seven really helped her I'd say. Chris gave her a great ride, she jumped well and relaxed well. He said at halfway he thought he was going to run well and she stuck it out well so we're delighted. We're going to enjoy today and there will be a lot of celebrations. This weekend means a lot to the town and the lads are all local. To have a winner here on Derby weekend is unbelievable.

Down Royal Sat, 22nd Jun, 2024  Explorers Way The form of his last run (third in Navan) has been franked. He's a grand horse and it just took us a while to get to know him. He likes to be fresh and well on the day of the race, but he gets 1m2f well. I'm sorry for Jack Kearney that he couldn't do, he has just got a little heavy and the weight was too light for him. James is a very able replacement, he is very good. I've admired James for a long time and that is his first winner for me. I haven't been able to get him some of the times I wanted him. Jack was our go to all the time but, unfortunately, Jack is going to be going over jumps. We are going to have to get him a few jumpers!. I had great faith in James today and he rode a lovely race. He was in the right place the whole way and it was nice to watch. The syndicate are mainly from Sligo and they are all here. We bought the horse at the Tattersalls Online Sale back in April. That's his fourth run for us, so he is going the right way and I think he'll give them lots of fun.

Listowel Sat, 1st Jun, 2024  La Note Verte She hated the ground first-time out and is a real summer mare. She is not very big, is light-boned and will run away during the summer. I think as racing went on today, they were going wider and wider and with no chases and six hurdle races, it was getting more chewed up than normal. There was no pace, she was fit and had a run so I decided to go on and it worked out. I think there is a bit more there with her and I imagine she will go jumping now, although she might strengthen up with a break so we'll see what Willie thinks.

Tramore Fri, 31st May, 2024  Rauzan I bought him off Mick Halford. He was running over the winter on heavy ground. He had a nice run in a maiden hurdle at Gowran one day but he just wasn't in love with that heavy ground. We ran him here the last day and he just never seemed to travel over two miles. Mick was running him over a mile-and-five to a mile-and-six on the flat and I'd say he just needs to get into his comfort zone. He picked up well tonight and I'd say he will come on again for the run. He is handicapped on the flat as well, so he could run over two miles on the flat. Hugh gave him a good ride and it's grand to get a winner out here. We'll see what the handicapper does now.

Down Royal Fri, 31st May, 2024  Countess Of Tyrone She handled it (step up in trip) well there today and I thought this race might suit her a couple of weeks ago. I'm delighted the way she did it. Her brother (Earl Of Tyrone) was good and she's a nice filly. It is great to win a stakes race with her and hopefully she can continue in these stakes races.

Roscommon Mon, 13th May, 2024  Lady O That was absolutely lovely because the filly is named after Lady O'Reilly who was in the syndicate and she actually bred her,. It's a lovely touch. We bought her a couple of weeks after she passed away. It wasn't something that we set about doing but Patrick (Cooper) just fell in love with the filly. Being by Australia we didn't think she'd be out this early but she's just done everything so easily and she was ready to start today. Shane said she wasn't in love with the ground and she's only going to keep stepping forward. She's a lovely filly and we're very excited. Her stamina definitely kicked in late on and she's a filly that will be going a mile towards the middle to backend. We'll take one step at a time and see where we go. We won't talk about Royal Ascot just yet but she could get into the Chesham, I think. You never know, we could bring all the ladies to Saturday at Royal Ascot!

Dundalk Sat, 13th Apr, 2024  Port Fairy Ryan gave her a very positive ride, a very good ride from the front. He got the fractions right, kicked at the right time and that was probably the winning of it in the end. She had one run last year and has come on mentally and physically. She's a filly that's going to stay well, she was just ready to start here tonight and she'll come on fitness wise. She'll probably go for an Oaks trial now and she'll able to step up in trip. We'll try and get black-type next and hopefully it's onwards and upwards. The way the extra meeting was added the race suited at the right time. It was a lovely median auction maiden to start her in. I'd say she wants nice ground, probably no extremes, as she's a good mover. Chris Armstrong, representing

Dundalk Fri, 22nd Mar, 2024  Squire Danagher After the last race, we took the opportunity to geld him. He actually took it quite well, so he didn't miss much. We came here with an idea of a campaign on grass. Nice to get it done and we will look forward to the main campaign now. He's a very relaxed horse, but then sometimes we wonder would he be too relaxed. Around the back there was no distress signals and then, when it opened up, he just came and picked up. It was very simply done, and Billy knows the horse. Lovely ride and just produced him well. He got there early enough and was just doing enough. That's not a bad attribute in a racehorse, as long as when they do get to the front they still stay there!