Dundalk Fri, 25th Oct, 2024  Ostraka Honestly, a quality filly. The Belgian chap has done a great job with her (on her back). I don't know what to say - I'm shellshocked, but I did fancy her. I did like the mare and she was working great. I believe in a lot of these sprints - and we won it last year - are all in the break. She was jumping out with the one (Eclairage) in the last race even though she is a four-year-old. Last night I sent young James the video of Dun Na Sead last year and I said that he had to do exactly the same. He did it and he didn't panic. He kept a little bit for the last 100 yards. I'm delighted for him, he is a good jockey and a nice kid too. We've had a disappointing year, but they are coming right now. The season is a bit too short!. We are off to the Horses in Training Sale next week and let's see if we can pick up a few. She is staying around for sure. She will be a nice mare next year and I could even travel with her I'd say, she likes firm ground.

Gowran Park Mon, 21st Oct, 2024  Thrifty Of Digby She’s had no luck all year and a horse went down beside her in the stalls at Sligo which frightened her. Today we got everything right which is great. I thought she wanted quick ground and she handled that great, so what do we know!

Dundalk Fri, 27th Sep, 2024  I'm Spartacus He was probably a little unlucky not to win last Tuesday,. I had him entered here and in England he went very well on this surface so we decided to come here. It's always in the back of your mind when you come back quick if it's taken too much out of him but he grubbed up well. He had quite an easy week and we left him nice and fresh. Fair play to Adam, he had a good draw and sort of had to make use of it but he didn't do too much. He probably got there a bit too early and he was having a bit of a gawk, especially with the stands there as well. He's in again on Tuesday and if the handicapper is hard on him he might force me to go again. He probably will be declared for Cork. The syndicate who own him are mainly from Armagh, and include former all-Ireland winner Paddy McKeever. There are also a few lads from the US involved.

Dundalk Fri, 20th Sep, 2024  Karazhal We're delighted with him. It all seemed to go over his head at the Curragh. He had been pleasing us working and we were happy to start him off but it didn't happen on the day. . We gelded him as he was quite a heavy topped horse, took our time with him and he had been working nicely and was ready to start back. . I think he benefitted from a fast run race there, they seemed to run out of steam a bit late on and he was just coming home well. . He looks like a horse that could maybe even go up a furlong and I'd say there is plenty more improvement in him. He has a good attitude and it's good to get a bracket for him. . Watching the race I was saying that this lad needs to go up a furlong anyway but his last furlong was good. 

Navan Sat, 7th Sep, 2024  Ostraka We bought this animal in February, and Michael Halford who we bought her off will tell you as well, she has a bad back. This chap from Belgium used to come over to John Oxx 35 years ago and his son is better at it - I tried everybody including chiropractors since we bought her, and that owner has had some patience. It is his first ever horse. Your man Philippe came in and he yanked her back and looked at me and said in a Belgian accent ' that will either kill her or cure her!'. She was 460kg on that day and today she is 495kg. She is a grand filly. It is great to get a winner. We are having a disaster of a year and starting to come right now. The Joe McGrath (in the Curragh) will be the aim for her.

Navan Thu, 29th Aug, 2024  Northern Sonas He’s a lovely big straight forward horse who dropped into a nice grade and up in trip. It’s lovely ground and he got a very straight forward ride. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards and we’ll see where we go from here.