Punchestown Festival Quotes

DITCHEAT, ENGLAND - MARCH 9: Trainer Paul Nicholls watches as some of his horses work on the gallops during a media open day at the trainers stables, in Somerset on March 9, 2005 in Ditcheat, England. Nicholls has a large string heading to the annual National Hunt Festival held at Cheltenham later this month. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Neptune Collonges:

“It’s unbelievable. That’s three horses we have brought here now and the third winner. He deserves to win a good race. I knew he was fit and well and that’s why I told (jockey) Ruby to make loads of use of him. Cheltenham doesn’t really suit him. The Gold Cup would have to be really testing to suit him, but he’s won his Gold Cup now.”

About Mansony, winner of the 2007 Kerrygold Champion Chase

Arthur Moore, trainer of Mansony:

“He has always been a smashing horse and I have been looking forward to putting him in this company. I was a bit frightened he could have been done for speed early on, but (jockey) Davy gave him a great ride. He would have preferred softer ground but he has now gone and won in Grade One company and we will have to go down that route with him next year.”

Punchestown Festival racing quote about Silent Oscar, winner of the 2007 ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown

Robby Power, jockey and previous Grand National winner:

“These Grade One races are what you are in the game for. He (Silent Oscar) should not have been as big a price as he was. He just loves the ground.”

Patrick Convery, owner of Silent Oscar:

“Macs Joy got up on him for a couple of yards, but he fought back again - it’s brilliant. As long as the ground was good, we were happy enough. We’ve just been waiting for the ground all year and thank goodness it has come.”

About Refinement, winner of the 2007 Champion Stayers’ Hurdle

Jockey Tony McCoy:

“To keep a mare going for all this time and then to win a Grade One is a fantastic achievement. She is idle and has her own ideas, but when I gave her a smack coming off the bend she has picked up and won nicely. She is a real credit to (trainer) Jonjo, having won a Grade One bumper and now a Grade One hurdle.”

Punchestown Festival quote about Mighty Man, who dropped out of the 2007 Champion Stayers’ Hurdle

Jockey Richard Johnson:

“The ground was perfect; it is just an injury that could have happened anywhere. The owner treats him like a child and he will get the best of attention. It happened before we really got racing.”

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