Punchestown Sun, 12th Jan, 2025  Nine Graces We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit. When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted. Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate. She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice - a nice, staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas. She’s a winter soft-ground mare. I’d be hoping next year that she could make up into a graded mare over a trip. I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full-time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.

Leopardstown Sun, 29th Dec, 2024  Brighterdaysahead Let’s enjoy today. I was nervous watching it as I was wondering if they were going too fast. We’ve always thought the world of her and we’re going to enjoy today, but I wanted to give a word to Jack Kennedy as she’s his mare and he’ll be back riding all these horses once he’s fit. Sam is doing a brilliant job but Jack is first jockey.

Leopardstown Sun, 29th Dec, 2024  Brighterdaysahead I was nervous watching it as I was wondering if they were going too fast,. We’ve always thought the world of her and we’re going to enjoy today, but I wanted to give a word to Jack Kennedy as she’s his mare and he’ll be back riding all these horses once he’s fit. Sam is doing a brilliant job, but Jack is first jockey.

Punchestown Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024  Brighterdaysahead I know she had race fitness, but I thought it was a good performance. Everything went wrong for her because she was on her own in front. She would be better with a lead. We knew two miles would be a bit short for her, but she had race fitness and we had to make use of it. She was idling in front and wasn’t doing a stroke, so you would have to be happy. She is having a good blow, so there is plenty of improvement in her. She’s a good mare. The Mares' Hurdle is probably the race made for her, but we’ll see what happens. Leopardstown could be a bit sharp for her, but we’ll have a chat with Michael and Eddie (O'Leary) and see what they would like to do.

Punchestown Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024  Brighterdaysahead To be honest, I think she hated it out in front. She did all the donkey work and she was very tough. State Man came and laid down his challenge, and she didn’t lie down to him so that was great. I had an idea they were going to try and keep it steady, so I just had to go and make the running on her. It didn’t suit her, but it worked out. We’ll see what the lads say what the plan is. She would have had to do that today anyway (to go for the Champion Hurdle) and thankfully she did. She’s improving away the whole time. I think she will have learned plenty today as well and it might make her kind of grow up a bit more, having to go and do it. I know she had race fitness, but I thought it was a good performance,. he said. Everything went wrong for her because she was on her own in front. She would be better with a lead.

Down Royal Fri, 1st Nov, 2024  Brighterdaysahead We didn’t want it turning into a sprint – we kind of thought Paul (Townend, on Daddy Long Legs) might try to stack them up in front. I said to Sam ‘look, go out and go a good gallop the whole way’. He said it wasn’t ideal because she was looking around in front the whole way. He said she had a good blow and she will come on plenty from it. If she had winged the last two, she would have won a couple of lengths. She is never going to win more than what she is going to, but it’s great to win.