Thurles Sat, 21st Dec, 2024  Blue Velvet She is a nice addition to the mares ranks,. She was very green and lazy so was learning on the job and to pull it out again in the final 100 yards when the other horse came to her, was a great sign. She looks like a really nice type and looks another one for the DRF mares' bumper. Hopefully then she will go across the water and to Punchestown.

Naas Mon, 16th Dec, 2024  Baby Kate That was great - she looked beaten, but once she pulled out and got daylight, Brian said she just got her second wind and away with her. I'm very pleased with her because I think the other mare (Karoline Banbou) is good, two nice mares first and second. At this stage of the year, everything has to step up into graded company. There's not much left, but it'll be after the New Year.

Naas Mon, 16th Dec, 2024  Lecky Watson That was a good performance, I'm delighted how he jumped and settled in front. It looks like a big improvement on his hurdling form. Fences are bringing out improvement in him and I'm very happy with that. His attitude to jumping was tremendous as well. Paul was very happy with it and I was very happy watching. He seemed to be able to put in quick ones and take a flyer when he wanted. Generally, for a horse first time over fences it was a very good first start. Paul was giving me the impression that he wouldn't be afraid to go further. He said before the race that he thought this was his trip - I thought he might want a bit further, but he thought this was the right place to start him. Maybe we'll stay around this trip.

Fairyhouse Sat, 14th Dec, 2024  Future Prospect She was lugging left a bit all the way. I wanted to go down the inside, but I tried not to fight with her and we ended up in the middle of the track which was fine. She settled in front even though we were going a good gallop, and I was pleasantly surprised how well she picked up. I’d imagine we’ll look to the DRF with her for the mares’ bumper. She might be a slightly easier ride going the other direction. I think she’s the first Order Of St George (sire) that we’ve had and I wouldn’t mind a few more of them if they were like that.

Fairyhouse Sat, 14th Dec, 2024  Judicieuse Allen That was a good performance. He’s always been a strong galloper at home and going hurdling at that distance was probably always going to suit him. He jumped good and sharp and is a lad that should be well able to make the next step up the ladder.

Punchestown Tue, 10th Dec, 2024  You Oughta Know You Oughta Know was good but it was a funny race with Paul's lad (Port Joulain) pulling up lame. I was a bit raw in front but ability shone through in the end and it was a good performance from him. He started off last season very well but whatever went wrong he seems to be back showing what he can do now. He's well able for that ground and his form last year says when it gets slower he should have no problem with it as well.

Punchestown Tue, 10th Dec, 2024  Hey Sunshine in fairness to Hey Sunshine she's improving with every run, has a lovely attitude and really wants it. The gap opened for me (on the inner) but you need the animal to take you there. The step up in trip helped and she hit the line strong again today. The ground was a bit of an unknown but she handled it well and that opens more doors. I don't know if she'd handle heavy ground but she'll handle nice winter ground. I'd say she's just improving all the time and she's tough.

Cork Sun, 8th Dec, 2024  Energumene Normally we skip Christmas (with his Hilly Way Chase winners) and the Clarence House Chase was what we did previously, so we’ll see how he comes out of it before making any decision. He (Jonbon) put in a terrific round of jumping, it’s there to play for. We’ll give him competition, it’s one we’ll all look forward to whenever they meet. Hopefully we can keep them apart until Cheltenham.

Cork Sun, 8th Dec, 2024  Energumene That was a very exuberant display from him. I thought Dinoblue would make more of the running but Paul (Townend) said his horse was just looking for fences to jump and wanted to go a better gallop, so he left him on instead of fighting him. I was very happy with how he jumped and he had been doing everything right since her came back in August. Hopefully he can keep going that way and it was a nice performance to build on for the season. He didn't look like he needed the run, galloped the whole way to the line and had looked excellent since he came in. Normally we skip Christmas (with his Hilly Way Chase winners) and the Clarence House Chase was what we did previously so we'll see how he comes out of it before making any decision. I'm told Ferny Hollow is fine and the news back is that that he is good and came home and I was very happy with how most of the rest ran. It was nice to get them out and started for the season so we'll try and find opportunities for them.

Clonmel Tue, 3rd Dec, 2024  Karafon He jumped brilliant, settled great and his form entitled him to do it like that. I couldn't ride Karamoja for weight reasons and at home she would work as well as the winner, but Karafon has an extra season's training with us under his belt. That is often worth a lot and Karamoja ran keen and will probably improve more from it. We think a lot of both horses and Karafon can step up in grade now.

Clonmel Tue, 3rd Dec, 2024  C'est Ta Chance This is usually a Bermuda Triangle race for me and this horse just seemed to drop the bridle coming down the hill. Once I got daylight, he hit another gear, though. His jumping would need to sharpen up a bit, but I think he'll improve plenty from it. I think there is a lot of room for improvement. He had a good first run last year and we think he is better than his latest two runs, so hopefully he will make into a graded horse.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Lossiemouth It was very impressive, they went very steady which I think suited us,. She has that bit of speed. She has a nice Flat pedigree and when they went steady, it was bar a fall or something like that. She did make a bad mistake at the fourth last but when it came down to a speed race, I thought she was going to win that anyway. Her dam is a half-sister to Lord Glitters, who was a good miler a few years ago for David O’Meara. That’s the sort of pedigree she has, she has that bit of speed that always comes in handy when they go steady.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Tounsivator I thought every horse that we ran had a chance if they ran their best race. He might have had the fitness edge on them as he'd been running for us during the summer. The ground conditions probably suited him better today and I'm very happy with him. I'd imagine we'll go on to Christmas now. he was a nice purchase for Temple Bloodstock and I'm very pleased for Aubrey McMahon (syndicate manager): he was a reasonably priced horse and it's tremendous for the syndicate to win a race like that. Aubrey seems to be able to buy them cheap and has also had the English Cesarewitch winner.

Fairyhouse Sun, 1st Dec, 2024  Tounsivator I thought every horse that we ran there had a chance if they ran their best race,. He might have had the fitness edge on them as he’d been running for us during the summer. He was a nice purchase for Temple Bloodstock and I’m very pleased for Aubrey McMahon. He was a reasonably priced horse and it’s tremendous for the syndicate to win a race like that. Aubrey seems to be able to buy them cheap, he also had the English Cesarewitch winner. I’m very happy with him and I’d imagine we’ll go on to Christmas now with him. The ground conditions probably suited him better today.

Tramore Tue, 26th Nov, 2024  Sortudo Authorized is a brilliant sire and Jody did well to get him settled. I think there should be a lot of improvement in him. He’s an exciting horse going forward and will probably stay in bumpers this year.

Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Fact To File 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).

Punchestown Sun, 24th Nov, 2024  Lot of Joy 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.

Punchestown Sat, 23rd Nov, 2024  Ballyburn He did things very well and took a good blow during the race which means there is a lot of improvement to come. A lot of ours are running that way and it was a worry going out. He jumped from fence to fence and I was very pleased. I think Paul was very pleased as well. He has a lovely low head carriage and usually horses with a head carriage like that are very good jumpers. I haven’t been looking past today but we’ll have a look at what’s available and there is a chance he could go to England.