Tipperary Tue, 28th May, 2024  Akecheta Paddy Twomey had her as a two-year-old and last year as well and he did all the work. I didn't do much but Paddy has bigger fish to fry. She is a nice filly and is smart. She is very big although looking at the pedigree, it says 'Sioux Nation' but she is all Dalakhani (from the dam-side). Coming out of stall 16 we thought she had no chance and wanted to get her a good education but the family seem to run well first-time-out. Brian O'Connor pre-trained her, did a lot of work and we just fine-tuned her.

Curragh Sun, 26th May, 2024  Ocean Jewel They went no gallop and she was a bit fresh early on but Billy got her settled and she finished out well. I’m delighted with that. We’ll go on to Royal Ascot now for the Duke Of Cambridge. She’s won a Group 3 and a Group 2 now and that’s very important as she’s well bred and it’s great for Al Shira’aa Farms. The owners have been very patient and have waited since the Matron for this. I said to wait for good ground. There were a few races that we probably should have entered her in but she would have had to carry a Group 3 penalty and I just said it wasn’t fair on her and we’d wait for this and it would be a nice pipe-opener for Royal Ascot. She stayed the mile well. Once she settles early, she’ll stay it no bother.

Cork Tue, 21st May, 2024  Powerful Nation I think he is a very good horse and he idled in front. I'll get him another run before going for the Windsor Castle (Royal Ascot), as he was doing nothing only looked around. I was hearing so many things coming down here, I thought I was actually running in the Windsor Castle! . He had 9st6lb on his back and was giving a stone-and-a-half to some, so he is a fair horse. He was a bit green the last day, I think today's race was a proper one and I don't think ground is an issue for him. Kevin Walsh bred him, owns him with his sons and is from over the road in Dualla. Kevin has had horses with me for 10 years and while this is his best horse, he is lucky. I was with him at Goresbridge (in 2017) where we bought this lame filly by Society Rock for just €3,000 but she was from a really good family and she bred Powerful Nation.