Limerick Thu, 30th May, 2024  Grace Faraday Finally she has won, and thankfully the lads have stuck with her. They got her on a free lease and it has paid off now. Twice this year she didn't run well for me but she loves it around here for some unknown reason and doesn't like going left-handed. I'm glad to get her in front for the lads and also for the breeder (Edward Collins). The lads are all from Monaghan, there are eight in the syndicate and this is their first horse.

Punchestown Tue, 21st May, 2024  Mywayofthinkin That was grand, we were glad to see the bit of rain coming this morning. It's lovely ground and if the rain didn't come we may not have been running,. He had a hard enough race in both bumpers and it was the sensible thing to do (go hurdling). He'll be going back home to Martinstown shortly. He was a little bit deliberate and careful everywhere but professional over the last two when he was needed. He went to the line well and it was nice.

Clonmel Thu, 16th May, 2024  Ballycashin We were thinking a Flemensfirth wanted soft ground and I’d say she’s a better mare on a bit of nice ground. Danny decided to ride her chilly out the back to let her get into a rhythm and she won well. We were surprised that she hasn’t done that up to now but I’d say we were riding her wrong and on the wrong ground. We might continue for the summer.

Tipperary Thu, 9th May, 2024  Slip Jig I was expecting a good run and she ran a nice race in Clonmel (last month), when she finished fifth. We were delighted with that, and knew she’d improve a stone from her first run over hurdles. She had run a good race in a bumper first time out (in 2022) but just got a bit of an injury, so we had to give her time off. she is the first horse for the Road To Nowhere Syndicate, so it’s great for them and they’re delighted. They’re from Cloyne and Carrigtwohill, they’re a great bunch, and will enjoy tonight. They’ve had her all along and have had two horses in between which didn’t work out, but lucky enough she's done the job for her.

Punchestown Fri, 3rd May, 2024  Ballyburn Dermot pioneered going down to Australia and won the Belmont Stakes, an American Triple Crown race. He’s done superb things, so to be mentioned alongside him is fantastic. We were delighted with the way our fella finished. He's still not mature and he's racing too much throughout the race. Once he learns to settle a bit more and use his power at the end of the race I think he's going to a super horse. We can go either direction with him. Two miles, two-and-a-half and on his pedigree he can go out to three miles. I was just chatting to his point-to-point rider and he said he's a fabulous jumper of a fence so we have all that to put into the mix and see what direction we got in the future. A few of ours ran a bit flat earlier in the day and we were wondering would this fella do the same but he didn't. Good horses just dig deep and they do it.

Clonmel Thu, 18th Apr, 2024  Eddies Pride It was a pity to run both horses against each other and we had planned in keeping them separately, but with so many meetings being called off it was a great result. We had a one-two previously in Ballinrobe and they are grand, solid, old mares who are healthy and well and will stay going as long as there is an ease in the ground. They'll either be put in foal this or next year. The winner is owed by Eddie Naughton who is a good supporter of ours and the mare is doing her job away at her level. Gary gave her a great spin.

Naas Tue, 16th Apr, 2024  Crecora Hills She’s after getting the hang of things now jumping and the trip was a help as well. Her mother (Whatwillwecallher) was a good mare for us. She won three bumpers and was a good staying mare. She probably won’t run again this season. She’s a shell of a filly and it’s great to get that win.

Navan Sat, 23rd Mar, 2024  Iceberg Theory He was good today. We were a bit disappointed in Limerick where he jinked a little bit when Gavin's horse (Now Is The Hour) fell. We put cheekpieces on him today as we were worried the last day that he might be a bit of a divil, so we put them on today to make him concentrate. We were a bit worried with the way he was carrying on here in the parade ring, but Sean said he was only acting the maggot. He did it well and maybe we'll give him a stab at the auction final in Punchestown.

Cheltenham Thu, 14th Mar, 2024  Grey Dawning He was destined to be a chaser from the start and you just want it to happen so bad, so to win a Grade One novice here is great. He’s still got a huge future to look forward to, hopefully. We won a Grade One novice chase (at Aintree) with Protektorat, but I just feel like this horse is at least as good and potentially could be better, and that is not taking anything away from the ones we’ve had before. But time moves forward and he’s very important. Some people questioned coming for the race, but they can’t now! I just felt the race he ran here against Ginny’s Destiny in December was a very good race and it’s been proven so because they’ve been first and second today. Rule Britannia!

Cheltenham Wed, 13th Mar, 2024  Ballyburn It’s the first time he’s wowed me, I thought ‘wow, what a performance’ and to me that was a Champion Hurdle performance,. It was really really spectacular. With his size, scope and pedigree our owners might decide to go chasing with him next year, I don’t know. But with that performance he can go anywhere. Our team are in flying form, but we are just so sorry for Nicky Henderson that he has had to pull his good horses out. It could be us, so our sympathies go to him.

Cheltenham Wed, 13th Mar, 2024  Ballyburn It’s the first time he’s wowed me, I thought ‘wow, what a performance’ and to me that was a Champion Hurdle performance,. It was really really spectacular. With his size, scope and pedigree our owners might decide to go chasing with him next year, I don’t know. But with that performance he can go anywhere. Our team are in flying form, but we are just so sorry for Nicky Henderson that he has had to pull his good horses out. It could be us, so our sympathies go to him.

Leopardstown Mon, 4th Mar, 2024  Magic McColgan It was a nice performance and she's improved nicely from Christmas,. I'd imagine we'll probably keep her for Punchestown, for the listed mares bumpers, unless there is another one in between. She's a full-sister to Tornado Flyer.

Thurles Thu, 22nd Feb, 2024  Largy Hill Largy Hill did everything right and that was a good effort. You could see his jumping was that of an ex-point-to-pointer, compared to Stoke The Fire (stablemate, finished third) who was novicey and What Path (fourth) jumped a bit left. I was very happy with Stoke The Fire and that will bring him on hugely. . The winner is a big chasing type and it is nice to win a prize like this. I doubt he'll go to Cheltenham and will wait until Fairyhouse instead.

Gowran Park Sat, 17th Feb, 2024  Alpesh Amin they all just went too quick and stopped, it was madness what they did. I jumped the last hurdle the same speed as I jumped the first hurdle. He’s won on that ground before but he was beaten the last day in Limerick and has found his mark. I don’t even know if he was the best horse in the race but I just took my time and over half the field pulled up. I was lucky the way the cards played out and the gallop they went. we’ll have a look at the Full Circle Series Final in Punchestown which is a great initiative. The ground might be too quick but we’ll see what happens.

Leopardstown Sun, 4th Feb, 2024  Ballyburn He met hurdle after hurdle right and was in control the whole way. Paul was very happy with how he did things. He did everything right over the minimum trip which is good. He has a very low head carriage which is usually a good sign in a horse, I like it, but it’s not nice for the jockeys at times.

Leopardstown Sun, 4th Feb, 2024  Ballyburn He met hurdle after hurdle right and was in control the whole way. Paul was very happy with how he did things. He did everything right over the minimum trip which is good. He has a very low head carriage which is usually a good sign in a horse, I like it, but it’s not nice for the jockeys at times.

Punchestown Mon, 29th Jan, 2024  Built By Ballymore When I saw the way the ground was I said we might get 'Limerick' ground again. He just handles the muck. He mightn't quicken up, but he just keeps going in it. I felt he might have been put in high enough, but in those conditions he handles it better than most.

Navan Sat, 20th Jan, 2024  Minella Cocooner It was a huge improvement from his first run but obviously he'd had a long time off with injuries. He jumped spectacular there and seemed a lot more settled than he was in his hurdling days. Paul was delighted with him.