Stumptown developing into smart cross-country performer

He’s taken to it so well, he loves it. He’s careful enough over his fences in chases and you might think that he wouldn’t have the heart for it but he’s taken to it really well. There is a race at Cheltenham in December and he’ll probably go there. I don’t know too much about it but Keith says the course is very different to here. We’ll be happy to get him over there at the next meeting and get him around it. That was Vanillier's first time over them (cross-country obstacles) and you would be happy enough with him (finished a running-on sixth). It generally takes him a run.

De Bromhead & O'Keeffe snare another maiden

Joy for favourite backers in Listed mares' hurdle

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.

Another successful Sunday for Brouder

The horses have been running well for the last couple of months and it’s nice to get a winner for the O’Flynns who have been with me for years and are lovely people. They are salt of the earth. He ran well in Cheltenham last season and also in a Grade 1 here. He’s qualified to run in the Final but it’s a long time between now and March.

Touch Me Not takes Craddockstown crown

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.

Fact To File prevails in John Durkan thriller

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).

Hickey's Sonny May wins readily under O'Keeffe

He was very good. He’s a seven-year-old and has a bit of age now and is stronger. It’s great to win with a homebred and I’ve only two horses in training. I ride him most days. . He had a few problems and only ran twice last year and ran badly but we’ve ironed out a few problems. 

Kalypso dances in to complete productive weekend for Elliott

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.