Navan Sun, 15th Dec, 2024  Kalypso'chance I’d say he’s a smart horse, he’s a good horse,. Patrick said he’s a fair horse. We’ll probably end up going to Leopardstown all being well. He quickened really well, it was a nice race and I was happy with him.

Navan Sun, 15th Dec, 2024  Kalypso'chance Patrick said he's a fair horse and we'll probably end up going to Leopardstown all being well. He quickened really well, it was a nice race & I was happy with him. I'd say he's a smart horse.

Navan Sat, 7th Dec, 2024  He Can't Dance He's a big galloper. He's better than that, they just didn't go much of a gallop. He will be a nice horse. He's probably more of a jumper than anything, more of a two and a-half miler, but we will take our time with him this year. He mightn't have to do a whole lot this year.

Navan Sat, 7th Dec, 2024  Sa Fureur He stays well and he's a grand horse. He could end up being a Galway Plate horse. We'll see, maybe the Dublin Racing Festival (next).

Navan Sat, 7th Dec, 2024  The Yellow Clay He had his head in front at the right time which is always a good sign in a horse. I'd say the second horse got a good ride, he got the fractions right and he kicked at the right time. He nearly caught us. I told Sam not to be in front too soon, he rode our horse to instructions. He is winning, so that is all that matters. He's learning how to race.

Navan Sat, 7th Dec, 2024  Magic Boum That was a bit of a surprise. I thought she would run a nice race there and maybe go back for a bumper but, with the favourite falling, the race was there. She was very green in front, but in fairness she was tough after the mistake at the last. That was a bonus, and we’ll probably look for some black type with her over hurdles. I’d say she’s more of a chaser for next year — she’s a big girl.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Koktail Brut Koktail Brut is a nice horse. We thought we had a few nice ones at home and that was a good performance. He's a bit faster than his half-brother Gevrey and shows a bit of class. I'd imagine we'll look for a graded bumper.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Croke Park Michael (O'Leary, owner of Croke Park) had asked if I wanted Sam to get off Croke Park and on Firefox, but I didn't think it was fair as both owners (O'Leary and Noel Moran's Bective Stud - Firefox) have a lot of horses in my yard. You have to be fair to every owner and I just didn't feel it was the right thing to take him off Croke Park: Sam might have been disappointed but that's the game we're in and you saw what happened.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Croke Park That was brilliant. The horse probably won an average enough beginners’ chase here the last day and I didn’t know if the form was good enough, but that’s why I run them in the races,. Sometimes people say I shouldn’t run as many, but if you’re not in you can’t win and that’s what racing is about. This lad was 22-1. Sam gave him a great ride. Those are the races you want to see, there were four or five of them within a couple of lengths jumping the last. They went steady but it was a great race. I thought Henry’s horse would make it, to be honest, and Sam would sit second.

Fairyhouse Sat, 30th Nov, 2024  William Butler Not the one we expected but it's not the first time it's happened to us. He showed a good attitude and galloped away to the line so we're happy enough. He's a grand horse, he's a baby, and it's great that he won. I'd imagine he'll go for another bumper. John Doyle is a big supporter of the yard so it's great for him.

Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Kalypso'chance He looks a nice horse and is a big stayer for next year. He has a good attitude, and you’d like the way he dropped his head and galloped to the line. . He looked flat out halfway down the back. 

Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Touch Me Not Sam said he got as much fun riding him as he has on any horse in a long time. He came from the point-to-point field in England. He actually fell at the last in his point-to-point, believe it or not. I was worried about the ground but it was a good performance. He obviously came on from the last day. He was very keen at home as a young horse and he wasn’t showing me anything, but he’s come a long way in six months. I’m not sure where he’ll go next, but we’ll get him home and see where we go.

Punchestown Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024  Binge Worthy I’m a little bit surprised, but the horses are flying. He kept going well and we’ll find something similar for him.

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.

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  Stellar Story It was a competitive race and probably neither horse wanted to be in front. They are big, three-mile staying-chasers and idle in front. Sam’s lad wasn’t doing much in front and then when Jack got in front he wasn’t doing much either. At one stage they were only going 23 or 24mph. It was an exciting finish and all credit has to go to Michael O’Leary for running all three runners in the race. Search For Glory had a run and Stellar Story hadn’t. I’d say if Jack had another go he’d probably sit behind Sam and have one go at him. In fairness, both horses had a good school around. I’d imagine Stellar Story will run over three miles at Christmas and Search For Glory will probably be going for similar races.

Thurles Thu, 21st Nov, 2024  Minella Sixo He stays galloping and even in Cheltenham the last day, he was off it with a mile to go but stayed going. He is an honest horse who will win loads of races. He mightn't run on winter heavy ground but there could be a race back at Cheltenham for him in December. There are a couple of lads from America involved (with Pioneer Racing), this is their second horse so they're having some luck, which is great.