Recent Quotes
Clonmel Tue, 19th Jan, 2021
Magic Daze 
She is a lovely mare, did it very well and while that probably wasn't her ideal ground, it was great to see her go out and do it. She jumped brilliant and is a real chaser in the making and I'm just delighted to win with her. Riding arrangement-wise I'm not sure what way the Robcour runners are at the moment and Robbie (Power) rode a winner for us recently in those colours. We'll see how it unfolds.
Fairyhouse Sat, 16th Jan, 2021
Ballyshannon Rose 
She's doing everything right. We didn't really want to come here today but were forced to because we hope to run in Leopardstown in the good three mile handicap and wouldn't have got in without getting a few pounds,. Hopefully the handicapper puts us in at bottom weight. If she's fit and well we'll have to take our chance. She's moving up the grades nicely and where she stops we don't know, hopefully it's not for a while. There is a mares novice hurdle in Limerick in March and we'll aim for that to try and get a bit of black-type. The handicapper put her up 12lb for the last day and he's never far wrong. He's a judge in fairness. If he had put her up 12lb and she got murdered you say 'what's he at' but you can't complain. I'd prefer to be going up for winning than getting 5 or 6lb for finishing second. Paddy said he thought she might have got there too soon again today. We got held up with the frost and did a bit of roadwork with her. She did a piece of work on Wednesday on Oghill gallop and I thought it was as good a piece of work that I'd ever saw her doing. I've had horses rated above her over the years and I thought that was as good a piece of work as I'd seen. I thought if she brought that here we'd be in business again.
Fairyhouse Sun, 3rd Jan, 2021
Ballyshannon Rose 
She had a battle on her hands but she got the best of it,. She'll come back here in a couple of weeks time for a 0-116. We'll aim for that. She's thriving this year and she settled today in her race, which was grand and helped her get home. She's a progressive mare and next year over fences she might even go higher. We'll take it one day at a time. She a huge big mare, she's 17 hands, she's as big a mare that is out there but she makes good use of herself. Her head seems to have come right this year so it's great.
Limerick Sat, 26th Dec, 2020
It'sallabouteve 
She is bred well and while we were expecting a good run, it was her first ever day away from home and we were a bit worried about the ground. She'll improve and she has a bit of toe so nicer ground would suit her better,. Her job is done today and we won't rush her as she is a four year old going on five. Her owners (the Stacks) are with us a long time and it's a pity they are not here today.
Navan Sat, 5th Dec, 2020
Andy Dufresne 
He knew he had a race from the last home and I’d say he wants two and a half miles. Christmas may come a bit soon for him and he could be one for something like (the Grade One at) Fairyhouse over two and a half miles.
Limerick Tue, 1st Dec, 2020
Ballyshannon Rose 
This was the race we were hoping to win the whole time as it's Aaron's first ride over hurdles - not too many have their first winner on a first ride over hurdles,. We rode her out on Saturday morning, did a piece of work on Sunday and she was great so we said 'why not'. She was immature but is a smashing horse. It is always in the back of your mind to get black-type and if she could sneak into a mares Graded handicap, we could be in business. She is a chaser so the choice will now be to either stay hurdling or go chasing. I wouldn't like to go chasing at this time of year, because they are very hot and the owner wanted her as a chaser, so we'll discuss plans and see.
Thurles Thu, 26th Nov, 2020
Ballyshannon Rose 
She had very good runs in bumpers and lost her way; she unseated going to the start once, then wouldn't go to the start and for some reason this year she seems to have settled and has grown up. I have the privilege of riding her out every morning but she is actually perfect at home; it just took time for her to settle down and to grow into herself. Fair play to the owner (Mr Hughes) as he has had patience with her and has never annoyed me because with a big mare like that, you can't rush them. She is a smashing mare and is in an amateur handicap, for my son Aaron to ride, at Limerick on Tuesday so we'll see how she comes out of this.
Down Royal Sat, 31st Oct, 2020
Battleoverdoyen 
He ran a great race and I'm delighted. He's a good horse and I'd say we were going too far with him at the end of last year. I'd say two and half miles for him, something like the John Durkan and Samcro could go there too.
Wexford Mon, 26th Oct, 2020
Andy Dufresne 
It was a good performance and very straightforward. He got close to the fourth last both times but apart from that he was very good. Speaking to Mark (Walsh) he said we could step him up in trip so I'd imagine he'll step up to two and a half miles the next day. I'll talk to his owners now but I'd imagine he'll go for something like the Drinmore. It looked like he was going better at the line than he was two out so I'd say a step-up in trip will suit him.
Cork Sun, 18th Oct, 2020
Streets Of Doyen 
He is a nice horse and has just taken time to come to himself. He has learned how to race now but doesn't do much unless he is asked and Philip (Enright, on Friary Rock) rode a lovely race there from the front and it didn't suit our lad but I think we had the better of him at the last. You could see coming up to the line he wasn't doing a whole lot in front either. He has a big engine and is exciting and likes good ground so I might put him away. He could be a Pertemps (Final) type horse in time and there's also the three mile handicap at Fairyhouse in Easter too. Not too many win three in a row. Simon (Torrens) is riding unbelievably and is worth his 5lbs claim all day long so I'm using him a good bit.
Downpatrick Fri, 9th Oct, 2020
Beacon Edge 
He couldn’t have done it any easier. We’ll have to talk with Eddie and Michael (O’Leary) about whether he goes over fences or stays over hurdles. . I suppose we didn’t learn a lot there other than the fact he is well and that he jumped brilliant. Sean said he didn’t really handle the track that well and when he was in front he was a bit lairy. If he stays over hurdles he will go for those conditions hurdle races. I think two and a half (miles) might suit him better and I’ve felt that all along. He can be dragged into a race rather than sort of push it a bit over two miles. It wouldn’t be beyond a possibility that he will go chasing now, we’ll see. He’s a gorgeous horse and a beautifully-made horse. Nicky Richards bought him and sold him and Nicky was crying because he had nobody to buy him. It was killing Nicky to let him go. He won a bumper in Ayr and Eddie and myself loved him. . We had him racing twice recently and took him out as we were afraid of the ground. . It is a testament to Richard (Lyttle) and his team here that we were not afraid to bring him to Downpatrick. This racecourse has improved so much in the last few years. It’s a credit to the team.