Aintree Sat, 13th Apr, 2024  I Am Maximus It was an excellent ride. I had said before the race that we didn’t know how good this horse was, today he showed that he’s better than he had been. I thought he still had a little bit from the handicapper after the Bobbyjo and he’s proved it today. Paul was excellent, he kidded him round the inside, he got chopped up a couple of times and probably didn’t jump as clean as he could, but he was looking for the gaps and when he eventually got it he was all right. I could see Paul’s body language and he was happy, so I was happy then. I don’t think I said anything until he got over the last and then I let go (and gave him a cheer). He’s a tremendous horse. He has his own way of doing things, he’s quirky and immature but he’s learning all the time. It’s extraordinary how we came to have him. Nicky Henderson had him before me, Michael Grech moved his horses to Ireland and Nicky said to me ‘make sure you get him’ and it was fine advice. Nicky could see the talent that he had and we just had to nurture it, so thanks to Nicky and also Henrietta Knight who organised all that. To win an Irish National and an English National is impressive. I think he could be a Gold Cup horse, but we don’t know how good he could be because he doesn’t do it at home. He’s quirky, but he has huge ability and until others get the better of him, we won’t know how good he is.

Fairyhouse Mon, 1st Apr, 2024  Implicit The pilot was very good again, as he usually is. It looked like they went very hard, Paul dropped her in got her relaxed and came with one run. . Obviously he just got there and I thought it was a brilliant ride. I don't know what way it would have gone if the horse (Boher Road, clear when exiting spectacularly three out) didn't run out but she's improving. . I'd imagine she'll go to Punchestown and you'll probably see her through the summer as well, she should go on better ground as well. David Casey, representing

Fairyhouse Mon, 1st Apr, 2024  Implicit The pilot was very good again, as he usually is. It looked like they went very hard, Paul dropped her in got her relaxed and came with one run. Obviously he just got there and I thought it was a brilliant ride. I don’t know what way it would have gone if the horse didn’t run out, but she’s improving. I’d imagine she’ll go to Punchestown and you’ll probably see her through the summer as well, she should go on better ground. David Casey, representing

Fairyhouse Sat, 24th Feb, 2024  I Am Maximus I thought it was a magnificent performance considering how badly he jumped going away from the stands. He just missed one or two there and Jody (McGarvey) left him alone and let him find his own feet. When he got half down the back, and around the fifth last, once he saw the stands I think he just clicked into a another gear. I don't know how good he is, but he's certainly improving with every run. However, he does love Fairyhouse and maybe this is his track, he certainly has an engine. It's very hard to quicken in this ground, he has a big engine in there. I'd imagine he goes for the Grand National, he would look a Gold Cup horse in time but I'd imagine Aintree is his objective. I'm not worried about ground for him. I don't know how good he is yet because he just keeps improving.

Fairyhouse Sat, 24th Feb, 2024  I Am Maximus I thought it was a magnificent performance considering how badly he jumped going away from the stands. He just missed one or two there and Jody (McGarvey) left him alone and let him find his own feet. When he got half down the back, and around the fifth last, once he saw the stands I think he just clicked into a another gear. I don't know how good he is, but he's certainly improving with every run. However, he does love Fairyhouse and maybe this is his track, he certainly has an engine. It's very hard to quicken in this ground, he has a big engine in there. I'd imagine he goes for the Grand National, he would look a Gold Cup horse in time but I'd imagine Aintree is his objective. I'm not worried about ground for him. I don't know how good he is yet because he just keeps improving.

Leopardstown Sun, 4th Feb, 2024  Brucio I thought JJ had her in a great position and she jumped very well for a lightly raced mare. There were a couple of hares in front and luckily they have just gone a bit too hard. She’s won well in the end. She’s been steadily improving and won in Catterick the last day which was a good piece of race selection by Anthony (Bromley). We are in a different ball game today, but it has given her a bit of confidence. She has a wee touch of class about her, and it couldn’t have gone any better on the day. We have plenty of options now and we could think about the mares’ novice in Cheltenham or a good handicap somewhere. I was a wee bit worried about the ground today and I think she will handle nicer ground.

Leopardstown Sun, 4th Feb, 2024  Brucio I thought JJ had her in a great position and she jumped very well for a lightly raced mare. There were a couple of hares in front and luckily they have just gone a bit too hard. She’s won well in the end. She’s been steadily improving and won in Catterick the last day which was a good piece of race selection by Anthony (Bromley). We are in a different ball game today, but it has given her a bit of confidence. She has a wee touch of class about her, and it couldn’t have gone any better on the day. We have plenty of options now and we could think about the mares’ novice in Cheltenham or a good handicap somewhere. I was a wee bit worried about the ground today and I think she will handle nicer ground.

Naas Fri, 12th Jan, 2024  Readin Tommy Wrong They are a nice bunch of horses coming along and Daryl was very good on Readin Tommy Wrong. He gave him a very cute ride and let the main protagonists fight it out before taking it off them in the end. He’s a horse that is improving all the time, very brave – and it’s good for Irish jump breeding that Authorized is standing here this season. That puts him right in the picture for the top prizes in the spring. He looks a typical Ballymore (now the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) horse and has just kept improving. Paul was very happy with Ile Atlantique at all stages. He did all the donkey work and, as I said, Daryl was very cute and got a tow the whole way and just outstayed him in the last couple of strides. The two of them are going away all the way to the line. I felt before the race that it was the top novice hurdle run in Ireland or England over the whole Christmas period, so I’m very happy they have run so well.

Naas Fri, 12th Jan, 2024  Readin Tommy Wrong They are a nice bunch of horses coming along and Daryl was very good on Readin Tommy Wrong. He gave him a very cute ride and let the main protagonists fight it out before taking it off them in the end. He’s a horse that is improving all the time, very brave and it’s good for Irish jump breeding that Authorized is standing here this season. That puts him right in the picture for the top prizes in the spring. He looks a typical Ballymore horse and has just kept improving. Paul was very happy with Ile Atlantique at all stages. He did all the donkey work and as I said Daryl was very cute and got a tow the whole way and just outstayed him in the last couple of strides. The two of them are going away all the way to the line. I felt before the race that it was the top novice hurdle run in Ireland or England over the whole Christmas period so I’m very happy they have run so well.

Naas Fri, 12th Jan, 2024  Readin Tommy Wrong They are a nice bunch of horses coming along and Daryl was very good on Readin Tommy Wrong. He gave him a very cute ride and let the main protagonists fight it out before taking it off them in the end. He’s a horse that is improving all the time, very brave — and it’s good for Irish jump breeding that Authorized is standing here this season. That puts him right in the picture for the top prizes in the spring. He looks a typical Ballymore (now the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) horse and has just kept improving. Paul was very happy with Ile Atlantique at all stages. He did all the donkey work and, as I said, Daryl was very cute and got a tow the whole way and just outstayed him in the last couple of strides. The two of them are going away all the way to the line. I felt before the race that it was the top novice hurdle run in Ireland or England over the whole Christmas period, so I’m very happy they have run so well.

Down Royal Tue, 26th Dec, 2023  Mongibello We have been excited about her for a while,.

Fairyhouse Sun, 3rd Dec, 2023  I Am Maximus That’s a nice bonus on his last day as a novice. He won his maiden in nice circumstances here and has come back now to win a Grade 1 novice. He’s a total character as you could see from his early days racing. Paul gave him a great ride in the Irish National and Jody gets on well with him and gave him a super ride there. He looks a class horse now rather than a handicapper so maybe we’ll have to make different plans for him now. We were hoping he’d have a chance over the trip and the fact that it was his last day as a novice to give him the opportunity. He’s clearly improved from last year and obviously shows a liking for Fairyhouse. He has a funny action when you look at him head on and I’d imagine softer ground is to his liking. I thought he was beaten turning for home and to produce what he did up the straight was very good. This year we were maybe looking at going for the English National and whether we change and go for Grade 1 races now I’m not sure. We’ll have to have a word with Frank (Berry) and JP and see what they want to do. I didn’t speak to Paul yet but for me Sharjah clearly didn’t like the ground and you could see that from his head action.

Fairyhouse Sun, 3rd Dec, 2023  I Am Maximus That’s a nice bonus on his last day as a novice. He’s a total character, as you could see from his early days racing. Paul (Townend) gave him a great ride in the Irish National and Jody gets on well with him and gave him a super ride there. He looks a class horse now rather than a handicapper, so maybe we’ll have to make different plans for him now. We were hoping he’d have a chance over the trip and the fact that it was his last day as a novice to give him the opportunity. He’s clearly improved from last year and obviously shows a liking for Fairyhouse. He has a funny action when you look at him head on and I’d imagine softer ground is to his liking. I thought he was beaten turning for home and to produce what he did up the straight was very good.