Leopardstown Sun, 5th Mar, 2023  Fils d'Oudairies We were waiting for the news (on Friday) and he had put in a good shift to get back but it didn't happen for him. He is a big player in the whole team and hopefully will be at Cheltenham shouting us on. I've learned not to get too excited (about Cheltenham) until after it but even if I wasn't riding I'd be excited as I love it and it is a marvellous time of year. I thought it was a nice performance by Fils D'ourdairies - obviously we thought the favourite (Saint Sam) was going to be very hard to beat and Davy gave him a nice ride. He was quick out the gates and took a lead the whole way. He's a good horse on his day when things go right for him and it's nice for Davy to come back on a winner.

Leopardstown Sun, 5th Feb, 2023  Gentleman de Mee It was a surprise but you only have to look back to Aintree last year. He settled much better today, so I had a bit of petrol for the finish. He has a serious engine. He sat on Dunvegan's girth early on, didn't tear away as he can often do. On this performance he deserves a crack at the Champion Chase.

Punchestown Sat, 31st Dec, 2022  Saint Sam We decided to come back over hurdles with him and it might be the right thing to do going out in trip with him. He likes to get on with the job so Paul let him get on with it today. He put in some tremendous jumps and I think if he settles a little better over hurdles that might be his career for the near future. Otherwise I’ll mix it with him over fences. I want to get him out in trip. He’s bred to stay further but he races a bit keenly. I think he’ll settle down once he gets used to racing over a longer trip.

Leopardstown Thu, 29th Dec, 2022  Gaillard Du Mesnil He had the experience, he had the rating, he was still a maiden but we had kept him to good class company all the time and he got his experience against that type of company,. Paul said he just flew fences down the back for him. They went very fast and he was even taken off it a bit early on but the pace up front took it's toll and they paid the penalty. He just glided into the race down the outside, kept out of trouble and kept away from the loose horse the best he could. He just kept jumping and landed in front. He deserved a crack at that trip (last time) though it was a little bit short for him. He probably learned a lot going that pace over two-miles-three. All that experience counts for a day like today.

Thurles Thu, 24th Nov, 2022  Sainte Dona The plan was to jump out and make it. She might have got a bit of a freebie but still she kept going and won 25 lengths. She had plenty left and started to idle a bit and the third-last being taken out didn't help either. We knew the step up in trip was a big thing to her and she is a real staying mare, by a great sire. She is crying out for a fence and would definitely get blacktype over fences but whether or not she'll get it over hurdles I don't know. There aren't a lot of staying races for novice mares for her but we could see what handicap mark she gets as that could be another option. I actually got a present of her from Andrew Brooks who had plenty horses in pre-training with me but was pulling the plug and left me the mare.

Fairyhouse Tue, 8th Nov, 2022  Eric Bloodaxe he's a hard horse to get fit, he's massive and Jack said there is plenty of improvement in him: he gave a good blow. He does everything easy at home and I'd say he'll come on from it. I was thinking about going chasing with him but just found that race and he could now go chasing, he's a grand horse. It's Jack's 50th winner of the season so it's great.