First track winner for Ian Donoghue

Runner-up three times in maidens at three and once rated 81, five-year-old mare Tellthemi'mhere (15/2) got off the mark at the 18th attempt when landing the Lougher Stables Handicap.

She broke well for Gary Carroll and tracked front-running 5/2 favourite Elmos Fire The daughter of Belardo, fitted with a hood for the first time, looked held over a furlong out but wore down the market leader in the closing stages to score by a length and a half.

It was a first track winner for Ian Donoghue (brother of jump jockey Keith) who said: “It's nice to get it. We thought we had a few ready when I got the licence first, I think the first seven all finished in the prize-money.

“We didn't really think it would be her. She was bought in an online sale, we said we'd buy her and see what she is and she might go jumping. She probably will end up going jumping.

“She might stay on the Flat and then go jumping in the middle of the summer.

“I got on to a few lads and they said she was hard work and a bit awkward but she hasn't put a foot wrong for us.

“We treat her like she's a point-to-pointer really and I suppose she's tired and she can't play up.

“She jumped well and that was the main thing as I said to Gary I was worried about the stalls. I said to Gary 'if you jumps well you'll be grand, at least she'll stay galloping'.

“She's fit, she galloped last Friday around Dreapers on that ground with four-year-old point-to-pointers. She knew she'd stay, we weren't worried about that.

“We knew a mile would be her minimum and we'll step her up the next day and see what happens.

“There are a few lads involved along with my Dad. It's great for them as Trishknowsbest didn't run well in those colours on Sunday at Downpatrick.

“It's nice to get off the mark as I was looking last night and I think she's our 24th runner. We're only five minutes down the road as well so it's great.

“We've hunted all our lives and I rode a few winners point-to-pointing. I was always too heavy and probably not good enough as well.

“My main business would be pre-training and breaking for Gavin Cromwell and John McConnell as well.

“We've two horses for the Flat, Vikki Wall ran in the first and got stuck in the ground. We have four for jumping. We don't want too many as selling is our game, if we have too many for the track we're not going well with the pointers.”

On the celebrations he added:- “We have to go home and ride out now, we have a few more lots. We have point-to-points at the weekend.”

Quotes from Gary Carson