Maze delivers on debut over flights

He jumped indifferent but Paul said the hurdles felt big jumping out of the ground. He ran well a couple of times on the Flat and won well the last day so it's a good starting point.

Come To Me records easy maiden win

Poignant success for the Dempseys with Derrinross

My father (Des) died a few weeks ago and it's his horse. Luke told him the week before he died that he'd win on him, and maybe we had a little help from above. He was a very hard horse to keep sound last year. He wasn't doing a stroke in front, the ears pricked and he'd love that ground. When they came to him he'd always find. He was a good point-to-point winner. We hadn't any luck with him up to this and we were going to go chasing. On that performance you would have to think of staying hurdling. We had him in the last few weeks but the ground was too quick for him. I was talking to his other owner Tom Furlong, who does the gallops, and suggested we'd go for this. I was hopeful as we have never had such a run with him. He'd bits of problems last year but we were very happy with the way he was moving this year. I knew he'd like the ground and I knew he'd like the trip. He has a little nick but it doesn't look too serious and he could go for something like the Graded three-mile novice hurdle at Limerick over Christmas.

Treble for Townend as Paddy impresses in Hilly Way

It was a pity Andrew Lynch couldn't ride him as he'd all the schooling down with him but he got injured. I was delighted to get Paul to fill in. He wasn't jumping fluently in Punchestown and ran a bit flat but he's summered fierce well and was in great shape coming here. He's just a different horse this year. He'd a few problems last year but is all there now and has had no injuries. He was working out of this world and if we didn't win here we were going to struggle this year. He'll probably go to Leopardstown now at Christmas and if he performs well hopefully he can go on to Cheltenham in March. After that he suffers from allergies and that may have been his problem in Punchestown. When the growth starts, the pollen starts so we'll aim to have him at his peak in March. Paul said he would be better going left-handed. He handled that ground well but he seems to be versatile enough. Today Great Field came down and we were there to pick up the spoils. If he stayed up it would have been some race but you have to get you’re bit of luck as well.

Winters gamble landed as Dempsey completes double

He loves Mallow, a flat track. We were a bit concerned about the ground but he’s a big, strong horse and the ground was loose. The race worked out lovely for him as they went an even gallop the whole way and he jumped well. His two wins now are in Mallow so hopefully we can find something for him here again.

Power-packed Pump denies Townend five-timer

Robbie gave him some ride, and he said he knew jumping the last he'd win it. You nearly need to produce him that late as when he did get to the front he thought for a second. The plan was to get him settled as he can be a bit keen. I knew he'd come home like that and he went close at Wexford last year.