Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Fact To File What a race! I was trying to keep an eye on them all and I think it’s a testament to the race that the horse that tried to keep up with Galopin Des Champs, Grangeclare West, had to pull up before the last and he still ran on to finish third. I thought we were beaten when Spillane’s Tower came up alongside us halfway up the run-in so it just shows that he’s made that leap from novice company to senior company that he could pull out more. I love that in a horse that he could pull out a bit extra to get home. Mark said he took a blow but stayed on well to win. He’s over 17 hands but an athletic horse with it. He has a lovely temperament and true grit. It was a hell of a race, and I think all these horses are going to win big races between now and the end of the season. It’s fantastic that Punchestown have brought the race back to this time of the season and all these horses can recover in time to run around Christmas. I don’t know where they will go next but Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs could both run at Leopardstown. Some of the ones behind could run at Tramore (on New Year's Day).

Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Lot of Joy I think she enjoyed being left alone in front and Paul was happy with her. She took her breathers and jumped better. She’s settling better. We didn’t think she would handle that sort of ground but it’s good to know that she’s able to handle it and we can continue with her. We were half thinking of putting her away. She could go to Leopardstown, and I wouldn’t mind stepping up to two and a half. She has to improve a bit but we’ll give her the opportunity.

Punchestown Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024  Ballyburn He did things very well and took a good blow during the race which means there is a lot of improvement to come. A lot of ours are running that way and it was a worry going out. He jumped from fence to fence and I was very pleased. I think Paul was very pleased as well. He has a lovely low head carriage and usually horses with a head carriage like that are very good jumpers. I haven’t been looking past today but we’ll have a look at what’s available and there is a chance he could go to England.

Thurles Thu, 21st Nov, 2024  Jarrive De Mee He is a very nice horse, is by Authorized and out of a Great Pretender mare, he won a point-to-point and has now won a maiden hurdle easily. He is for sale to stay in the yard and will eventually jump a fence. Aubrey McMahon (agent) has had a lot of success and he pointed this horse out to me so deserved a lot of credit. He cost the price as a nice store horse so is the same as Full Confession (recent bumper winner) and they are nice types for nice kind of money. Meetingofthewaters (Paddy Power Chase winner) started off in my colours last year and I like this horse: I love those Authorized horses but they are hardy to get.

Fairyhouse Tue, 12th Nov, 2024  Full Confession we bought him after he won at Dromahane but there was a question mark over his wind. David Mullins was very keen on him though and had picked him out, so I thought at the price (€60,000) he was worth a chance. He’s now won a point-to-point and a bumper and he’s for sale to stay in the yard. He has a Flat pedigree so it was impressive to win a point-to-point in Dromahane and now win a slowly run bumper.

Naas Sun, 10th Nov, 2024  Spasiba It probably worked out workmanlike for his price, he was very short. I'll have to look at another half mile for him and maybe going right-handed. He seemed to be leaning to the right, so a novice hurdle right-handed would be the obvious thing to do. Sometimes you don't get right-handed and have to go left-handed, we'll take what we get. It's a big open straight here in Naas, facing up there, but he got the job done and that's the important thing.

Clonmel Thu, 7th Nov, 2024  Pink In The Park It was a good performance. She took on the geldings the last day and while we were disappointed, she ran a respectable fourth. That probably sharpened her, she jumped great across the top and battled well at the finish. I didn't think I'd be beating Allegorie but you never know, especially with mares and these races can often throw up funny results. She has had a good consistent summer and is going the right way. I won on her brother Mister Pink in Punchestown recently, they're a good breed so people could be lining up for the next one.