Quotes on Macs Charm (IRE)

I'm delighted with that. It was a big ask for his first run in a handicap, saying that it's a pity he wasn't in the race before it. He didn't actually qualify for it (Irish National) as he hadn't three runs at the time. He wants soft ground and he's been fortunate this year to get soft ground at this time of the year. We'll keep him in for Punchestown and see what the weather does. Unfortunately you just can't plan for soft ground at this time of the year and he's probably more a Thyestes horse. He's very ground dependent. He's been a right horse and that was only his fourth run over fences so it was a fair performance.
After Macs Charm (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Mon, 10th Apr 2023 3m Hcap Chase Soft

Quotes on Falco Blitz (IRE)

Dad is gone to Lanzarote for the week of Cheltenham — he told me he has gone sunning himself but unless he gets it through the bar window, he'll struggle!
After Falco Blitz (IRE) finished 1st at Limerick on Sun, 10th Mar 2024 2m 6f Hcap Chase Heavy

Quotes on Lucky Zebo (GB)

That was great and Jamie (Lawson Maher, owner) was down here so that was good. He’s progressing. We went over fences for a couple of runs which he did really well but there wasn’t a whole lot coming up so we said we’d come back and have a look over hurdles. It was lovely to see him go and do that again. We’ve had loads of fun with him so far and hopefully he’ll keep improving.
After Lucky Zebo (GB) finished 1st at Gowran Park on Fri, 29th Sep 2023 2m 4f Hcap Hurdle Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Watch The Weather (GB)

The plan was to run him yesterday at Galway. He was declared on good ground and obviously it went yielding to soft, so it would have been a waste of time. We ran him on heavy in Listowel the last day and Conor Stone-Walsh said he hated it all the way and never went. Even today I was a little bit worried would the yielding ground be quick enough for him. He has a little bit of a wind problem and needs everything to go right, but he got a very, very good ride today. I told Danny to just drop him out and fill him with confidence and leave him on the bridle as long as he could.  . He is a good horse when things go right for him, but he can be very in and out a bit. He struggles to win but I'm delighted for his owner. He obviously likes it here, he won here before and was third twice in two beginners'.  . As soon as the ground turns soft or heavy he will be left off, but we might get a bit of nicer ground at some of the better tracks. We will probably keep him on the go for a little bit longer anyway and he'll go on his holidays then. I'd imagine we'll stick to fences with him for the time being anyway, he jumps well, he is very good to jump, he knows what he is doing.
After Watch The Weather (GB) finished 1st at Wexford on Sun, 27th Oct 2024 2m 3f Hcap Chase Yielding

Quotes on Now Where Or When (IRE)

I was very tempted to be going for the race tomorrow with him over three miles (handicap chase). Two miles is plenty short enough, I know he won the beginners' over two miles. Stepping up into better company, he definitely wants further. I was just worried about tomorrow if we get a deluge here tonight it could open up. He's a grand big horse. He has never really run a bad race, he has been very consistent and sure hopefully he will keep progressing. Daryl Jacob rode him in the spring for us at Fairyhouse and he suggested to have a go with him over the National fences, so that could be an option down the line. That's Sam's first winner for me and sure hopefully he will get a few more. He gave him a great ride. He's had a good few rides for me but it is good to get a winner for him. After the first (fence), he was gaining at every fence.
After Now Where Or When (IRE) finished 1st at Down Royal on Fri, 4th Nov 2022 2m Hcap Chase Soft

Quotes on Invictus Machin (FR)

It’s nice to finally win one with him. He’s been frustrating and the ground was too quick for him in Limerick the last day. The rain just left it nice ground. He’s not up to going on deep winter ground but just needs to get his toe in a little bit. Hopefully that will do his confidence good and the handicapper won’t be too hard on him.
After Invictus Machin (FR) finished 1st at Kilbeggan on Fri, 23rd Aug 2024 3m 1f Hcap Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Jasmin De Cotte (FR)

On his first run over fences he was entitled to win. He jumped well and it helped having the rail after the last. He’s a young horse and is definitely better over a fence and the penny is dropping with him. He was too free over hurdles and I’d say the further he goes will be an advantage. . Hopefully we’ll keep him on the go for the summer.
After Jasmin De Cotte (FR) finished 1st at Kilbeggan on Fri, 17th May 2024 2m 4f Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Sainte Dona (FR)

That was some exhibition. She had a lovely run in Limerick, but she takes a bit of time between her races as she's so hard on herself. We went back to Cork after she was second here and it was too soon. She jumps and stays, that's her forte. She won a maiden hurdle by a similar distance (25 lengths) and to win a beginners' chase by 26 lengths is some going. She's going to get better and she'll get more black-type over fences by the same she's finished. The plan was to try and get the beginners' out of the way and she's got that done. She seems to be at home on that ground, but she's not slow either. For one that travels so well on the heavy ground here, she finds the deep sand at home hard work. I put in a carpet gallop this year at home and it's after transforming her, she zips up it. It keeps her fresh and well.
After Sainte Dona (FR) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Wed, 7th Feb 2024 2m 5f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Shajak (IRE)

He jumped great and I'm delighted with that. It wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world if he turned up in the amateur (Connacht Hotel) handicap at Galway on Monday. He is entered in that but isn't in the winners' hurdle. He'd have a big weight but Harry (Swan) or Josh (Williamson) could claim off him.
After Shajak (IRE) finished 1st at Limerick on Thu, 27th Jul 2023 2m Maiden Hurdle Yielding to Soft

Quotes on Aarons Day (IRE)

a couple of years ago he was left at the start here over hurdles and almost won, but went backwards after that. He's difficult to handle and can blow a fuse very quickly. He's big and powerful so it's not simple and today we got him around the parade ring once, got the jockey on and luckily it didn't take too much out of him - it often does before the race. we're delighted and it was a great ride by Phillip. He was keeping better company, maybe too good, but it taught him how to race. He liked the ground and the track. We were hoping he'd do that but we were hoping before that he'd do different things. Hopefully he's developing and getting better now. He was better today than any day. I have no plans, he'll probably stay at the likes of that and will stay further in time.
After Aarons Day (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 29th Jan 2023 2m 4f Hcap Chase Soft

Quotes on Happy Dreams (FR)

That is my second winner this week and we have been lucky. This is his third win at Limerick and he loves it here. He was well-in at the bottom of the weights and young Mark gave him a lovely ride. We had a metal manufacturing business in Shannon and I found the sport was a great way of getting to know customers. We are racing a long time now and this has been a good week, although you'd need it. The horses were going ok at home, are happy but I never think we will win as everyone else does too! I'm very happy with what we achieved this week and when you get a winner everyone is happy - the guys in the yard are much more interested in their work and everyone feels a lot better.
After Happy Dreams (FR) finished 1st at Limerick on Thu, 28th Dec 2023 2m 3f Hcap Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Valsorpresa (GB)

He hasn't been straightforward, he was a bit keen early on in his career. He's going to win plenty of races - he's no Presenting Percy (brother) and he's not the biggest in the world, but he's going to win plenty of races. I'd say it is beautiful ground as it always is in Downpatrick. All credit to Downpatrick, every time you come into the racecourse there is something new. New vets box, new stable yard, new trotting up area. I think a lot of racecourses could take a leaf out of their book. Paul (Townend) is going to be very hard beat (in jockeys' title race), he's got serious ammunition for Punchestown. I thought coming into today if he (Kennedy) rode another four winners he would have a chance. Another three to go and Paul would have to ride 11 to beat him.
After Valsorpresa (GB) finished 1st at Downpatrick on Fri, 26th Apr 2024 2m 1f Maiden Hurdle Good

Quotes on King Ferdinand (IRE)

He is an improving horse and it is a great syndicate, from my local pub the Gortroe Inn. They formed after a few of my horses won and Vinny Grimes and Tony O'Shea are the main men in it. There are 26 members and their families and this is unreal - they are having savage luck with him.
After King Ferdinand (IRE) finished 1st at Killarney on Thu, 22nd Aug 2024 2m 4f Hcap Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Mr Saxobeat (IRE)

He's a lovely horse. We got him off Sean O'Keeffe's Dad and we were thrilled when we got him. We like him a lot and we would have been disappointed if he wasn't knocking on the door today. He'll probably go to the field for a bit of a rest as he's only five and I'd say he's on the go a long time, even before we got him. I think he could do with a rest. He had been going well and doing everything right. He was going well in a point-to-point (at Fairyhouse) when he fell and it looked good on the video anyway, we kind of bought him on the strength of that. The owners (the Roberto Syndicate) have had Agent Boru with me for years and he came good again this season. We were looking for a replacement for him as he's ten now and, thank God, it looks like we have a lovely replacement for him. They are a lucky bunch of fellas.
After Mr Saxobeat (IRE) finished 1st at Galway on Thu, 29th Jul 2021 2m 2f Bumper Good

Quotes on Noble Talent (IRE)

When we saw the entries, we said we'd run if Danny was happy to ride him. Danny rang me the other day and walked the track and said he'd like to ride him. I have to thank him for this. JJ (Slevin) and Danny both said he should do well over fences. Danny walked this on Wednesday and told me the ground was lovely, in Mallow it was too quick for him. He needs three miles but we were quite happy with that. He'll handle a good bit softer than this. Jumping is a big strong point with him. He's a funny little horse, Danny pulled out wide as I don't think he likes being bullied inside in a big bunch. We had a cute man riding him. Have you ever seen a jockey to keep improving so much? He's brilliant. He works for small trainers really well because he puts a lot into it. JJ was suggesting to me that we should be looking at the Tim Duggan, he said that after Sligo. Danny said the same, that we should be looking at a decent handicap. He was thinking we could go out to three or three-and-a-half miles with him. He's in good order and fences seem to be improving him. He's something to look forward to.
After Noble Talent (IRE) finished 1st at Gowran Park on Sat, 9th Nov 2024 2m 4f Chase Yielding

Quotes on Salmanino (FR)

It's job done, I suppose. He was entitled to win that, it was the ideal race for him. We'll maybe look for a staying handicap now. I'm so thankful for these races, where would I be going with a soft ground horse in the middle of the winter without these races? I would have been lost, wasting my time out the back somewhere and then you are struggling in handicaps. There is a great gang involved (Fauda Partnership) and they really enjoyed that. Paul McGinley's brother Mick has a leg and his dad is involved as well. There is a staying novice handicap in Navan before Cheltenham if the ground was still heavy. He's not a quick horse. Hopefully he can be competitive again, but that's job done for the year. His jumping is very good and for a big horse he is very clever. He needed to win that today as that was his Gold Cup. Old Soul jumped absolutely beautifully. He's not a hurdler and he's not quick and the longer you stay over hurdles the more you sour these horses. Because he jumps a fence well, we've gone chasing straightaway. You'll see him again in one of these races in a month's time.
After Salmanino (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Sun, 15th Jan 2023 2m 6f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Old Soul (FR)

he was clinically abnormal here the last day — that’s why he was 22/1. He probably should have been about 7/1 and was entitled to win that if you scratched out his last run. it was a disaster here the last day but Sean (O'Keeffe) pulled him up quickly. He’s not quick and we’ll probably head over fences now reasonably soon.
After Old Soul (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Mon, 19th Dec 2022 2m 7f Hcap Hurdle Soft

Quotes on Casey West (IRE)

I took a chance coming here so soon after Limerick and he is also way better going left-handed. I have him for two point-to-point and two hunter chases and he had finished second three times. Aintree is left-handed and I think now we are qualified to run in the Foxhunters Chase there. He'll go back point-to-pointing now but going left-handed, over a short hunters chase trip and the fences over there, will suit. This lad has a bit of class, has to be ridden positively and while he'll go on better ground, wouldn't want it too quick.
After Casey West (IRE) finished 1st at Clonmel on Thu, 11th Jan 2024 2m 4f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Verdant Place (IRE)

the ground was a bit worse than I thought coming here and they are saying it's dead. He got through it but I still think he might be a better horse on nicer ground. We're delighted to get another win out of him and to go back-to-back. We'll see what the handicapper does now. I think that's his trip (2m7f) although maybe on nice ground you could drop him back a little bit. We'll keep him to 2m6f or three miles.
After Verdant Place (IRE) finished 1st at Punchestown on Sun, 19th Feb 2023 2m 7f Hcap Hurdle Yielding