Navan Sat, 17th Jan, 2026  Brown Boots It is a staying family, his (half) brother Ballygrifincottage was fourth in an Albert Bartlett (2022). To be honest now, first run in a handicap, first run over fences, you are always nervous. The main thing is to get around. Probably wasn't a wonderful race and Brian was very happy with the way he jumped; he said he jumped super. It was nice to get it, and he is a nice horse going forward. Yes (unexposed) and hopefully (bit of scope). He surprised me now because I walked it (ground) and I thought it was horrible enough but look he handled it and I'm happy with his jumping. Brian is a very good lad and he works hard. He's a good team player.

Navan Sat, 17th Jan, 2026  Brown Boots It is a staying family, his (half) brother Ballygrifincottage was fourth in an Albert Bartlett (2022). To be honest now, first run in a handicap, first run over fences, you are always nervous. The main thing is to get around. Probably wasn't a wonderful race and Brian was very happy with the way he jumped; he said he jumped super. It was nice to get it, and he is a nice horse going forward. Yes (unexposed) and hopefully (bit of scope). He surprised me now because I walked it the ground and I thought it was horrible enough, but look he handled it and I'm happy with his jumping. Brian is a very good lad and he works hard. He's a good team player.

Tramore Thu, 1st Jan, 2026  Captain Ryan Matt That's a nice way to start the year. I'm delighted and he was brilliant there. I'm delighted for Derek and his family. He obviously likes it around here. He jumped really well, way better than he has done.

Tramore Thu, 1st Jan, 2026  Captain Ryan Matt That's a nice way to start the year. I'm delighted and he was brilliant there. I'm delighted for Derek and his family. He obviously likes it around here. He jumped really well, way better than he has done.

Leopardstown Sun, 28th Dec, 2025  Affordale Fury It’s fabulous. Philip (Polly) has been very lucky with me with the couple of horses he’s had. We haven’t too many, but the couple of horses we have turned to gold. When this fella was second in the (2023) Albert Bartlett as a novice hurdler, we were really looking forward to him as a chaser. He won his novice chase and then things went wrong on us, and he missed the whole of the next season. He was sort of left in no man’s land. I was kind of saving him last season for the Irish National and he would have got into it. He obviously would have been hard enough to beat in it but things went wrong again.

Thurles Thu, 27th Nov, 2025  Affordale Fury He has been a little unlucky and one day at Fairyhouse last February he made a bad mistake at the last and lost. Last year we had planned in running in the Irish National and again this year we had the same plan, but they changed the qualifying rules. He had to have four runs so we started him back in Gowran (in October), but he picked up a penalty for finishing second and picked up a further 7lb for finishing second to Envoi Allen in the north, so effectively that put him out of handicaps. The Ladbrokes Trophy in Newbury had been in my mind, but this race was made for him and I'm not sorry we didn't travel. Today is only his sixth run over fences and I'll play it by ear now, but his next run could be in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Naas Sun, 9th Nov, 2025  Only By Night I’m delighted as I’ve been wanting to have a horse for Brian (Acheson, of Robcour) for a long time and it’s a nice start. She’s a good mare. She is genuine, brilliant to jump but won’t go and win by two or three (lengths), although we got the result. The first day we ran her over two miles over fences, we thought it was going to be way too sharp for her but she’s jumped so quick that she’s been effective at two miles. Two-and-a-half won’t be a problem to her. there is a great programme for mares in novice company but it’s just not as good for mares-opens. I think the next race is the Chich Fowler race in January. Ultimately the Mares Chase in Cheltenham is the plan

Naas Sun, 9th Nov, 2025  Only By Night I’m delighted, I’ve been wanting to have a horse for him (owner Brian Acheson of Robcour) for a long time and it’s a nice start. She’s a good mare,. She is genuine but she won’t go and win by two or three (lengths). She’s brilliant to jump and we got the result anyway. I don’t know where we go next but ultimately the (Mrs Paddy Power) Mares’ Chase in Cheltenham is the plan. That’s a nice start. The first day we ran her over two miles over fences we thought it was going to be way too sharp for her, but she’s just jumped so quick that she’s been effective at two miles. Two and a half miles won’t be a problem to her. There is a great programme for mares in novice company but it’s just not as good for mares-only. I think the next race is the Chich Fowler race in January (John and Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase at Fairyhouse).

Fairyhouse Sat, 11th Oct, 2025  High Notions Shane was very good on her, it wasn’t easy the way the race was ran, so it was great for him. It was great for the lads, that’s the second horse they’ve had — they were unlucky as the first mare was killed in Tramore. She wouldn’t show much at home and we weren’t expecting her to run so well at Ballinrobe. She’s improving, so it’s great. She’s not big but she’s tough. We’ll see what mark she gets and go from there, make a little plan. I wouldn’t say she would be a middle of winter filly. She’s kind of surprised us up to now so we’ll let her keep going for a little bit anyway.

Sligo Wed, 1st Oct, 2025  The Striker Dylan He came up against a few improvers over hurdles. When we started schooling him over fences, he jumped well and he ran a lovely race in Wexford. We quietly fancied him but it's very competitive in Ireland, so any day you have a winner is a good day. The ground is slightly slower than he'd like. He got in close to a couple but it was only his second start over fences. He'll have plenty of options including novice handicaps. I'm delighted for his owner John Murray. His grandson Dylan is here. He's a good soccer player, and is a striker, hence the name!