Punchestown Mon, 27th Jan, 2025  Maughreen I thought it was a huge performance for a mare having only her second run, against the experience that Familiar Dreams had,. She went out and made her own running, jumped from hurdle to hurdle. She made one or two little mistakes and got a bit close at the last, but Paul was happy to let her fiddle that. She learned. I’m not sure we’ll any more chances to give her a run between now and Cheltenham, we’ll see. Looking at that I don’t think she’ll need one. She should improve, I’m hoping she’ll improve from that. She took a blow and she was idling. All roads lead to Cheltenham.

Punchestown Mon, 27th Jan, 2025  Port Joulain At last he’s improving, that fella. He’s probably not the simplest horse to ride, he’s very fussy with his mouth and we might try and sort that out,. Paul said when he got down and rode him he went straight for him and he was happy but he has a very tender mouth. He’ll possibly be better going left-handed. I don’t know where we’ll go, he might be more Fairyhouse/Punchestown but they are two right-handed tracks. I probably see him more as a chaser. He could make the top grade as a chaser, rather than a novice hurdler. If we do a bit of work on getting his head carriage right, it could improve him a good bit.

Punchestown Mon, 27th Jan, 2025  Maughreen I thought it was a huge performance for a mare having only her second run, against the experience that Familiar Dreams (third) had. 

Punchestown Mon, 27th Jan, 2025  Karbau That was a nice performance. He learned a lot from the first day and put it to good use,. He was taking about half-a-length out of most of them (at his hurdles). I’m very pleased with him. He’s in the Supreme Novices’ and Turners. He’s a forward-going type and he likes to race and jump. . If he finds a bit of improvement, he’s right up there. I’d be happy enough that he’s a good calibre horse. He loved that ground.  . Zillow ran well in third, I’d say he’s more of a spring ground horse.

Naas Sun, 26th Jan, 2025  Dancing City Paul said he’s so settled, he’s exactly what you’d want for a three-mile chaser. He gallops and jumps, and only does what he’s asked to do. I was very pleased with the performance in what is very, very testing ground.

Naas Sun, 26th Jan, 2025  Anzadam That was a very good performance. Paul gave him a squeeze after the last and he quickened away nicely. There was no sign of him stopping,. He has a good engine and is climbing up the tree nicely. He could be anything. He’s in the Champion Hurdle but maybe we should wait for Aintree. That looks appealing and he’s still only five. The jump he put in at the third last I thought was extraordinary and showed me that we’ll have no trouble going novice chasing with him when we want. We’ll see how far we can go with hurdling and see what his owners would like to do.

Naas Sun, 26th Jan, 2025  Anzadam That was a very good performance. Paul gave him a squeeze after the last and he quickened away nicely. There was no sign of him stopping. He has a good engine and is climbing up the tree nicely. He could be anything. He’s in the Champion Hurdle, but maybe we should wait for Aintree. That looks appealing and he’s still only five. The jump he put in at the third last I thought was extraordinary and showed me that we’ll have no trouble going novice chasing with him when we want. We’ll see how far we can go with hurdling and see what his owners would like to do.

Naas Sun, 26th Jan, 2025  Charlus That was a very pleasing first run for a Churchill off the Flat. I was afraid he’d be too keen and was really pleased how he settled and jumped. He had a couple of little setbacks earlier in the season and we’re hoping that he’ll improve enough to merit his entry in the Triumph Hurdle. It’s a new partnership (The Why Knot Partnership) between a number of groups hatched over a social occasion. They have four or five horses, mostly dual-purpose types, and our aim would be to have runners at the likes of Cheltenham and Ascot.

Fairyhouse Sat, 25th Jan, 2025  Kawaboomga He did that very well, he improved nicely for the experience in Leopardstown. He would look to me like a horse that will stay much further. He’s entered in all those novice hurdles at Cheltenham but looking at that performance and listening to Mark I’d think we’d be looking at the Turners or the Albert Bartlett. I think the Turners would look to me where I’d like to be going at this point in time. We were a little worried between the fourth and third last, I just thought Mark was having to niggle him. Maybe he had no company at that stage and the horse was just idling a bit. Definitely he was doing his best work from the last home. It would lead you to believe, with his pedigree as well, that stamina won’t be a problem.

Fairyhouse Sat, 25th Jan, 2025  Aurora Vega It looked a big improvement to me, I was really taken by that performance. I thought she’d come on a lot from the last day, I wasn’t expecting that out of her. She looked like one that you’d maybe want to keep for the Grade 1 mares hurdle here at Easter. That would be foremost in my mind at the moment. Baby Kate (sixth) disappointed me a little bit with her performance there.

Fairyhouse Sat, 25th Jan, 2025  Aurora Vega It looked a big improvement to me, I was really taken by that performance,. I thought she’d come on a lot from the last day, (but) I wasn’t expecting that out of her. She looked like one that you’d maybe want to keep for the Grade One Mares’ Novice here at Easter. That would be foremost in my mind at the moment. Baby Kate disappointed me a little bit with her performance there.

Gowran Park Thu, 23rd Jan, 2025  Nick Rockett This horse has been a fantastic servant and to win here means so much more. It gives me an inner feeling of consolement as it’s what Sadie always wanted. It would be great to have a runner in the Grand National. He’s honest, he jumps well and he stays so that’s all you can ask for in a National horse. There will be great celebrations in the area tonight as Sadie’s family are all from around here. It was a tremendous performance. For me, today was the day. You might get a chance to win one big handicap with a horse in a season and what a race to win. We’ll probably look towards a National whether it be an Irish or Aintree. When we were growing up the Thyestes was always a National trial. The weights used to come out before the Thyestes that time.

Gowran Park Thu, 23rd Jan, 2025  Nick Rockett He was impressive, wasn’t he? We thought he was going to be one of our better bumper horses once upon a time and he got injured, but he jumps fantastically well and hopefully he might live up to what we hoped he could be. Jonjo’s horse brought a fair level of form and we beat him well and hopefully there’s more to come. He’s owned by my mother, but is for sale to stay in the yard and he’s a horse that could go to the spring festivals and later on in the year he could be a Galway and Listowel horse. He does have a bit of a funny action and his sister Pink In The Park is exactly the same, so it’s a family trait. They both have very unusual ways of galloping, but as my father says if they can swing it fast enough it doesn’t matter!

Gowran Park Thu, 23rd Jan, 2025  Quai De Bourbon He looks a real staying type. I’m very happy that he was able to do that on the ground and I’d imagine he’ll go out in trip. I’d be nominating him for the Brown Advisory, and I’d imagine he won’t run again before then. The extra distance won’t be any problem to him, and he jumps well. I’m very happy with the runner-up. He enjoyed being out in front, and I think he’s settling better over fences. Blizzard Of Oz also ran a cracker.

Gowran Park Thu, 23rd Jan, 2025  Nick Rockett This horse has been a fantastic servant and to win here means so much more. It gives me an inner feeling of consolement as it’s what Sadie always wanted. It would be great to have a runner in the Grand National. He’s honest, he jumps well and he stays so that’s all you can ask for in a National horse. There will be great celebrations in the area tonight as Sadie’s family are all from around here. It was a tremendous performance. For me today was the day. You might get a chance to win one big handicap with a horse in a season and what a race to win. We’ll probably look towards a National, whether it be an Irish or Aintree. When we were growing up the Thyestes was always a National trial. The weights used to come out before the Thyestes that time.

Thurles Sun, 19th Jan, 2025  Appreciate It He always had a very high level of form, but hasn’t hit the back of the net often so that was brilliant for him. He split Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in last year’s John Durkan Chase, so has always had a high level of form. He probably missed his prime when he got injured after winning the Supreme, so it is great for him to win such a prestigious race as this today. I think he loved the ground and dropping back to a Grade Two helped as well. He is 11 now and maybe one for the Topham Chase – he doesn’t quite stay three miles and that intermediate trip suits.

Sun, 19th Jan, 2025  Appreciate It He always had a very high level of form, but hasn’t hit the back of the net often so that was brilliant for him. He split Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in last year’s John Durkan Chase, so has always had a high level of form. He probably missed his prime when he got injured after winning the Supreme, so it is great for him to win such a prestigious race as this today. I think he loved the ground and dropping back to a Grade Two helped as well. He is 11 now and maybe one for the Topham Chase — he doesn’t quite stay three miles and that intermediate trip suits.

Thurles Sun, 19th Jan, 2025  Appreciate It He always had a very high level of form but hasn't hit the back of the net often so that was brilliant for him. Obviously he split Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow in last year's John Durkan Chase so has always had a high level of form. . He probably missed his prime when he got injured after winning the Supreme so it is great for him to win such a prestigious race as this today. I think he loved the ground and dropping back to a Grade 2 helped as well. He is 11 now and might be one for the Topham Chase maybe - he doesn't quite stay three miles and that intermediate trip suits. Classic Getaway loves this track and this ground and Paul Townend felt Blood Destiny blew up on his first run this season, he thought he'd improve a lot for the race.

Punchestown Sun, 12th Jan, 2025  Salvator Mundi We know he can jump but he didn’t jump well today because I couldn’t let him. He had to dig in then off the bend on tacky ground in the straight. He had to find plenty, it’s hard to be impressive on that ground but at least he won. He’ll have to build on it but I think he will. He has gears and on that ground it’s hard to use gears to the best effect. I’d say a stronger run race on looser ground, wetter ground even, would be a help to him. The engine is massive. After half a mile I thought this horse can’t win on his first run in six months when he’s pulling like that on heavy ground. Because he was keen Paul didn’t want to let him jump and he didn’t jump, so he’d every reason to get beaten and still won. It looked to me like he took a blow after the second-last and you could see Paul went down and gave him a squeeze and came with a run down to the last. He kept everything tight down to the last and there should be a lot of improvement there. I think in a faster run race, being let jump, he’ll improve. Paul couldn’t let him jump today because he would have been even keener and jumping his way to the front. I wouldn’t be worried about his jumping in a stronger run race. I think he’s probably had a hard race today and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went straight to Cheltenham.

Naas Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Joystick He’s a nice jumper and a real nice galloper.

Naas Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Ile Atlantique His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else. He’s matured a lot and got stronger than last year, which is a big help, and fences might just be the making of him. Paul says when he sees a fence, he measures it himself and it just seems natural to him.

Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Ile Atlantique His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else. He’s matured a lot and got stronger than last year, which is a big help, and fences might just be the making of him. Paul says when he sees a fence, he measures it himself and it just seems natural to him.

Naas Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Ile Atlantique His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else.

Naas Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Fun Fun Fun She jumped well for a mare having her first run. She jumped the fifth last very well and got two lengths there which changed the race,. The Opera Hat back here next month could be a possibility. Karia Des Blaises jumped indifferently, which left her with too much to do, but she’ll get her turn and Iris Emery ran a cracker.

Sun, 5th Jan, 2025  Fun Fun Fun She jumped well for a mare having her first run. She jumped the fifth last very well and got two lengths there which changed the race,. The Opera Hat back here next month could be a possibility. Karia Des Blaises jumped indifferently, which left her with too much to do, but she’ll get her turn and Iris Emery ran a cracker.

Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Champ Kiely He did everything as it should be done, he galloped and jumped. Paul was very happy that he’s much more relaxed over fences than he was over hurdles, which will hopefully bring about more improvement in him. We’ll have to look at the two-mile-five at the Dublin Racing Festival. He could easily step up in trip, Paul remarked that he was so relaxed which means you could step up. Chosen Witness ran a cracker and I’m very pleased with him. I’m disappointed for O’Moore Park, he was running a great race and didn’t deserve to fall. He jumped well throughout the race and the last fence just let him down.

Fairyhouse Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Allegorie De Vassy It was nice performance from her. She enjoyed being in front today and Paul said she just enjoyed her jumping and galloping,. Even with the 24mm of rain they had here the ground needed it all. It’s still not real winter heavy or anything like that and she enjoyed that nice bit of ground. She put in some super jumps and I’m very happy with her. We’ll possibly look at the Opera Hat next at Naas, it’s down in trip which wouldn’t be ideal but it’s a mares’ race.

Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Allegorie De Vassy It was nice performance from her. She enjoyed being in front today and Paul said she just enjoyed her jumping and galloping,. Even with the 24mm of rain they had here the ground needed it all. It’s still not real winter heavy or anything like that and she enjoyed that nice bit of ground. She put in some super jumps and I’m very happy with her. We’ll possibly look at the Opera Hat next at Naas, it’s down in trip which wouldn’t be ideal but it’s a mares race.

Fairyhouse Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Sounds Victorius He’s a lovely big type, a real chasing type. He’s just really laid-back and he just idled. When the other horses came around him, it took him a while to pick up and go again. With the new configuration of hurdles here, so they don’t have to take them out because of sun, there is a lot of racing without a hurdle. Paul said he lost complete interest going down the back. It’s a better system, though, if they can have all the jumps in and I applaud Fairyhouse for that. It looks like he’s crying out for a further trip. We’ll be aiming him higher now and he might be an Albert Bartlett type. He’s out of a Presenting mare, so he’s going to stay all day and he’ll go on better ground.

Fairyhouse Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  Aurora Vega She at least put that run in Wexford behind her and looked like she’s back on an upward curve,. I’m very happy with how she jumped and how she handled the ground. I think there is the Solerina race here towards the end of the month and we’d be looking at that. I like when they show a liking for here because you can always look at the Grade 1 race here at Easter.

Tramore Wed, 1st Jan, 2025  More Coko He won well with me here in August. My mother bred him and you can see he is a French bred as Madam Jacky Mullins is down as the breeder. She sent two or three mares over to France five or six years ago, kept them there and used the French stallions. They came home then when the foals were 18 months (old). She wanted to try something different and I think she has a nice one here. His owners, Paul and his brother John are here today. I won on Onlyamatteroftime in my own colours at Warwick in the summer and they had a horse in the race. They bought Onlyamatteroftime off me and he got injured on his first run for them. There were looking for a second horse, so they bought More Coko. They are from Galway, but based in the UK. They came over to see him run today and it's great that he has won. Brian came in and said he could be a chaser, he jumped with plenty of scope. He is obviously very versatile regards the ground, it was very heavy today and good in August. We will just keep tipping away with him and he might head over to England for a novice hurdle. We will build him up slowly. In England you can go for those novice hurdles, winners of one, winners of two and we don't have those races here. He might suit one of those races.