Galway Tue, 8th Oct, 2024  Hazelhatch Lady I'm delighted she's won. I was praying for the line to come, we had one yesterday and the line never came for us but we got away with it today,. On her day she's actually a good mare but she has her problems. Top-weight today was a little bit of a worry but on her home-work she's always been good. She could throw a spanner in the works the next day but that's just her. She's after winning a bumper, two hurdles and a chase so we'll see what she does after today. She was 115 or 116 over hurdles and he'll probably put her up to that over fences now so we'll see where we go. She's much better in a smaller field, that's obvious. In a smaller field when she gets her own way in front she's not too bad. Hopefully she can go on again.

Killarney Sun, 6th Oct, 2024  Inchidaly Copper We thought the ground might be a bit soft so we were hoping he would go on it, but we're near home so said we'd take our chance and were lucky. He seems to have matured this year and handles this ground better than he used to: as a young horse he didn't want to have any of it. I'll talk to his owner but the horse has a nice bit done and we might now keep him for next year. Luke's brother Andrew is riding in America at the moment and will be home soon, so he got the spin today and deserved that.

Downpatrick Fri, 20th Sep, 2024  Tell Nobody Nothin I am absolutely thrilled because I thought he would need a run. . He wasn't really a bumper horse - he jumps well, so we decided to go straight away over hurdles with him. . He travelled great. He had a breako bviously over the summer and I'm thrilled with him. . We'll take it steady, we'll look for a rated novice with him or something like that.

Galway Fri, 2nd Aug, 2024  Battleoverdoyen He was high class; he was a Grade 1 winner. He was very unlucky all winter with the ground being very soft, he was struggling with his wind on real soft ground,. said Elliott. We went hunter chasing with him and had a great plan to qualify him for the Foxhunters this year but didn't get to qualify him, everything went wrong. For him to come back and win for the lads here is great because they've been patient with him. He wasn't going to have too many more chances which just goes to show if you don't give up. He's a lovely horse, it's great for Pioneer and great for Danny Gilligan, a local man, who was touched off in a couple of races during the week. I thought when he hit the front a half furlong down 'I don't know if he'll get home with his wind'. I'd say it just did catch him for the last half furlong. He's been a horse of a lifetime for me, I've had him since he was a four-year-old. Obviously he's a Grade 1 winner and to come back and win for the boys today, if he doesn't do anything ever again he's going to have a great life. In fairness he has dropped a lot in the handicap, he's 123 there and was rated 160 at his best. We'll enjoy today and make a plan after that. He might go to Listowel for one of the handicap chases there.

Killarney Thu, 18th Jul, 2024  The Gray Ghost We thought he'd win the last day but Pa (King, jockey) came in and said he got his tongue over the bit. He is a devil for that so we tied down his tongue today - he has never made a noise but fiddles with it. In fairness to Pa he gave us invaluable feedback. We were wicked disappointed the last day as we think he is a fair horse and she gave him a lovely ride today. He is a big baby and is for sale. He is owned by my landlords Ray O'Connor and his partner Neasa Haverty, who are friends of mine and I'm delighted for them. It is the second time Neasa's colours have been worn and the first was by a horse which fell, when going to win a point-to-point and was sold afterwards.

Gowran Park Mon, 17th Jun, 2024  Influential Lady She has been absolutely brilliant and it's hard not to love her, . She is very very consistent in everything we ask her to do and we're very lucky to have her. She had a lovely run the last day in Leopardstown when she came home well and while I worried that her style of running mightn't suit Gowran, Wayne was brilliant on her and it is all about having confidence.

Limerick Wed, 12th Jun, 2024  Killeemore Lad It is great as the lads who are mainly based in Cork and mainly Urlingford in Kilkenny. They bought this lad during the year and he won in Hexham and Kilbeggan last year. I think he is improving and I ran him today with 10st1lb as I want to go for the amateur handicap at Galway with him, if he can get in off bottom weight. Andrew thinks he is improving all the time. He was unlucky in Listowel the last day when he was drawn 1 but missed the break, so it was game over although he stayed on at the finish. He needs to have good ground, he could go chasing and hopefully they'll continue to have great fun with him.