Bythesametoken makes it lucky 13 for trainer O'Sullivan

Bythesametoken made it lucky attempt number 13 when getting off the mark at Navan today, landing the Davis Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle for trainer Ross O'Sullivan and jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.

The son of Fame And Glory was today tried in a first-time tongue-tie and turned over heavily supported 8/11 favourite runner-up Encore Lui for a four and a quarter lengths win.

Trainer O’Sullivan later said “the three horses (for the Downtown Syndicate) arrived up at the start of the year and he was working the best of them all.

“We brought him to Limerick in a hurdle race for horses that couldn’t finish in the first three and he got beat. We brought him to several places and he was breaking our heart.

“Robert Power rode him last Tuesday for us and he was very disappointing. Robert said he was crying out for a cross noseband and a tongue tie and said he was not getting enough oxygen in.

“We had him entered but Friday morning I was inclined not to declare but Rob (Monroe, part-owner) said we have nothing to lose and Robert was proved one hundred per cent right. He also said to drop him in and give him a chance to breathe and that was the winning of the race today.

“Darragh gave him a great ride. He had a nice light weight on his back and maybe going left-handed helped as well.”

Quotes from Alan Magee