I’d Give Sam A Pat On The Back And Tell Him Not To Worry

Getting 100 winners this season before Christmas is a truly brilliant milestone for us.

100 Winner Milestone
It takes a lot to get there and I’m blessed with my staff, amazing owners and excellent horses. It’s all about team effort and our team certainly puts in the hard graft. My aim is to keep going and get 100 winners in Ireland hopefully.

The standout highlight of the season for me so far has definitely been No More Heroes winning two Grade 1s. Bryan Cooper rose to the occasion both times and made me one happy man.

Sam Twiston-Davies Controversy
I think Sam was unlucky with the fall on Hawkhurst at Southwell. It could happen to anyone really. Regarding social media and the press, it was all blown out of proportion. When it happens to a high profile jockey, high profile owner and high profile trainer it brings more attention in the media. It could easily have happened to Tony McCoy or Barry Geraghty.

If it happened to someone small there wouldn’t have been a word about it.

It was extremely unfortunate for Sam and I’ve no doubt he’ll have a winner or two in the next few days and it will all be forgotten about. Confidence wise, it will not hinder him at all.

If he was riding for me I’d give him a pat on the back and tell him not to worry about it and focus on the future instead. I’m sure he’ll put it behind him fairly quickly.

Weekend Winners
Old Guard won the International at Cheltenham on Saturday but I’d be very surprised to see him as a Champion Hurdle winner here. Death Duty came out of the race at Navan well on Sunday, a bit light after the race but he’s a very tough horse and it shows. I look forward to seeing more from him.

Weekend Entries At Ascot

I’ve got Diamond King and Vercingetorix going over for the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot this weekend.

Mala Beach is going for the Graduation Chase. Tagliatelle goes for the Long Walk Hurdle, De Plotting Shed is going for the Bumper and Woodford Island goes for the Handicap Hurdle. We’ve got plenty going over to Ascot this weekend so a winner or two would be great!

Out of them all, I’m really looking forward to running Woodford Island and De Plotting Shed.