Quotes on Blue Lord (FR)

That was very smart, I thought they'd go too fast for him here and they did go fast. I was looking at two-and-a-half miles for him this year but it looks like he could be a Champion Chase horse after that performance. Certainly the dial is coming back to two miles now rather than going out to two-and-a-half. It just means he's improving. I haven't thought about where he goes but I'm sure there is a programme there for those two mile horses. He got a great opportunity to settle in behind those front-runners today and that brought out the best in him.
After Blue Lord (FR) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Tue, 27th Dec 2022 2m 1f Chase Soft

Quotes on Capodanno (FR)

I felt coming out of Cheltenham we didn't do the right thing. Having a chat with Mark today, he was thinking the same way as I was and he wanted to be positive and that suited me. We always thought that he stayed, it was just about the right way to ride him. Jessie's horse (Harrington, Lifetime Ambition) took us along and when he didn't jump the fence down the back great, our fella went past and winged it. Mark got a little breather after the fourth last and he was very happy with him. In the bigger races we hadn't been bold enough and today was the day just to be bold and see what happens. It worked out and hopefully we might have a Gold Cup horse on our hands. He gallops and jumps and usually the Gold Cup is on good ground, that'll do us. He does everything right but he looks to just gallop and jump and when you stop him doing that you're not making maximum use of him.
After Capodanno (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Tue, 26th Apr 2022 3m Novice Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Fact To File (FR)

I think Mark did a great job to get him settled and I think he will learn a lot from that race, I’m just relieved. It’s all in front of him and when Willie decided to go straight chasing with him I had no objection, it sounded good to me. It has been vindicated. That was very impressive, it was a Gold Cup performance potentially, but he’s been like that since the day he came into the yard. I thought he’d win the Champion Bumper last year, then of course JP came and beat us with A Dream To Share, but that’s how good I thought he was. The fact that he was a ready-made steeplechaser from the first day he came into the yard is why I skipped hurdling with him and I’m very happy we did that now. I think JP had a nice little wager for the staff earlier in the season on this fellow for this race, so he more or less made the decision. He’s a beauty of a jumper and he gave Mark a tremendous ride, I’d say it was some thrill riding him round there. He’s just a real gentleman of a horse, that’s what he is. I’ve seen the potential. He’s like a child’s pony in the stable, he’s got the temperament for it. You know the plan (for next season), he could start off in the John Durkan, then run at Christmas, then the Dublin Racing Festival and back here. That’s the bones of the plan, but he has to stay right and JP might have other ideas, so I’ll have to have a chat with him about that.
After Fact To File (FR) finished 1st at Cheltenham on Wed, 13th Mar 2024 3m Chase Soft

Quotes on Fastorslow (FR)

To win it last year was a bit of a shock, but to win it two years in a row is something that can probably never be repeated again. We have to enjoy every second. In a lifetime you could have a hundred horses and never have a horse like him. Martin is an extraordinary man to care for a horse and had him spot on today. He’s turned up in just as good a shape (as last year) and possibly even better. JJ said he was running away with him for the first mile. He’s the best horse that I’ve ever had.
After Fastorslow (FR) finished 1st at Punchestown on Wed, 1st May 2024 3m Chase Good to Yielding

Quotes on Galopin Des Champs (FR)

I think he just put himself in the superstar category – to do what he did and the way he did it. The loose horse was there and Paul was just so positive on him. Hopefully we can come back next year to win a third one – he has the ability to do it and we just have to stay sound, I think. He’s doing everything right and is achieving more than I thought he could. It was great to win a Gold Cup last year and we were crossing our fingers this year that if we got him there safe and sound, he’d have every chance of winning and he’s just done that. But you can only dream about these kinds of things.
After Galopin Des Champs (FR) finished 1st at Cheltenham on Fri, 15th Mar 2024 3m 2f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Grangeclare West (IRE)

I didn’t expect that now – I thought he would run well, but that was a top race. Paul was worried about him pulling too hard and he’d want to be as fit as he is because he just pulled his arms out for the three miles. To do that, on that ground and win like that going away was a huge performance. His jumping was excellent. He just came out of Paul’s hands at the first fence and from then on Paul was just trying to settle him back. He got him back jumping normally. He’s just a natural chaser.
After Grangeclare West (IRE) finished 1st at Leopardstown on Fri, 29th Dec 2023 3m Novice Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Inothewayurthinkin (IRE)

His jumping definitely left a bit to be desired, but he clearly has a big engine. He looked to have done plenty wrong, but still won. Clearly he stays well, so we’re delighted with the result. I’d say that’s it for this season. He’s up into big boy company next year and we’ll see how that goes, but he’s going to have to improve his jumping. He’s a Grade One winner so it’s the obvious thing to do (run in top staying chases next season).
After Inothewayurthinkin (IRE) finished 1st at Aintree on Fri, 12th Apr 2024 3m Chase Soft

Quotes on Journey With Me (IRE)

We're happy with that. We just said we'd sit him in and see if he'd be happy enough to settle away as he's always making it. In a normal race he would have been but after half a mile Rachael had to go on. He was good, still a bit green in front, but I'm happy with him. Obviously further will suit him, I hope. Nothing is set in stone but I'd say, in my head, I'd be going for the Ballymore. That's two-five. We'll discuss it with connections, today was great and we'll enjoy that.
After Journey With Me (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sat, 12th Feb 2022 2m 3f Hurdle Soft

Quotes on Minella Cocooner (IRE)

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.
After Minella Cocooner (IRE) finished 1st at Navan on Sat, 20th Jan 2024 3m Chase Soft to Heavy

Quotes on Spillane's Tower (IRE)

From day one we’ve liked this horse and he’s taken to fences really well. I so delighted for the lads at home in the yard, Pat Murphy rides him every day, and the McManus family for sending him to me. We only have about a dozen horses and most of them are pointers. He’s only a six-year-old and his future is ahead of him. When the ground dries he’ll go home to Martinstown and next year will be the plan. I couldn’t see why he wouldn’t stay three miles but that will be for next year. He’s by a great sire in Walk In The Park. I spoke to Jody Townend and she said the ground is a bit tacky more so on the hurdle course than the chase so I was happy enough. Willie is an incredible trainer and a gentleman into the bargain. He even wished me well before the race today and visa versa I wished him well.
After Spillane's Tower (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Sun, 31st Mar 2024 2m 4f Chase Heavy

Quotes on Limerick Lace (IRE)

She's a fine big mare and jumps well. She needed the 7lb to win, to be fair, and he gave her a smashing ride. It's a nice pot to win. She always has those mares' races and we'll see where we go now.
After Limerick Lace (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sun, 26th Feb 2023 2m 4f Hcap Chase Yielding