Willie Mullins opened the doors of his Closutton Stables in County Carlow to the English and Irish media ahead of the crucial Christmas period which will see almost all of his elite horses in action. Here are the best bits....
On Vautour's chances of winning the William Hill King George VI Chase
I'm hoping he's good enough to win a King George and then we can think of Cheltenham, but I'm not going to say too much. As far as I'm concerned, we start off each year with a clean slate. I can't go to bed dreaming of what races we are going to win. I think I'm still as excited as I was about Vautour. I do remember he disappointed last Christmas and I'm hoping he can get over that. His mid-season runs every year have not been as good as his March runs. I think he's better in the spring. It's just how it is, but he might not be like that this year. Vautour is having his first run over three miles, and, yes, that has to be a concern. He jumped a little to his left at Ascot, and that also has to be a concern, but the way he jumped around Cheltenham over two-five, I think three at Kempton should be well within his grasp. It will be a differently-run race - busier - but I think he was just idling and had too much time to think.
On the absence of Gold Cup winner Coneygree from the King George
It's unfortunate Coneygree is not there. We are all only one gallop away from the same position with something going wrong. I cross my fingers every morning that there is nothing to tell me. It's the big dread that one of your stable stars has a knock because it is very tough to get them back if they have to take a month off. For a small yard, and to have a horse like him, it is hard. He will consume every waking moment. I remember what it was like when we were a small yard, to have that horse go out is a huge disappointment. We're in a lucky position to have one or two more. When we had Hurricane Fly, for the last few years each morning I was dreading seeing him, but he was good for the last few years. It's very tough for a small yard, we feel for them and we know how they feel.
On Faugheen's repeat bid in the Christmas Hurdle after meeting with a first defeat
Were it not for a blip in the Morgiana he'd be going there with a real favourite's chance. I still think he's going with a favourite's chance and will give a favourite's run. If something beats him on the day, fair enough. That's why we race - to find out. I thought his gallop before Punchestown was spectacular so I won't let him do that again - we might have done too much before the Morgiana. His training will be a lot more subdued.
On leading French jockey Jacques Ricou, who has joined the yard for a few months.
I'm going to give Jacques every opportunity I can to ride or get rides for him. He didn't come over here to ride, maybe he was looking at the second part of his career and training and he thought it would be a nice time to come and see how we did things. I'd be delighted to give him a winner over here, if I could.
On the role of bloodstock agent Harold Kirk
Harold buys a lot of the stock. He has a huge interest and puts the time and effort into it as I don't physically have the time to go and look at the horses. I also think people feel more comfortable talking to him. H e has a good eye and I trust him. It works very well. I know Harold from our riding days together. He's from the north of Ireland and I used to find it tough to go and look at horses up there. I've always valued his feedback and we gradually worked more and more together. He has time to go through everything and goes through the breeding side, whereas I look at the racing side. It's good to have a guy like him and it won't be changing for a while.