Flying Flanagan ends busy day with Limerick double

Sean Flanagan tops racing's list of busiest workers this Christmas and the jockey-cum-valet completed a Limerick double today on The King Of Prs (100/30) in the O'Kelly Brothers Rated Novice Chase.

Racing behind the leaders in the six-runner race, The King Of Prs was short of room entering the home straight and while unsighted jumping the second-last, overcame traffic to lead on the run-in, to beat Irish Blaze

Six-time Grade 1-winning jockey Flanagan recently purchased the Fox family's jockeys' valeting business and today, on Ireland's busiest raceday, sent eight employees to Down Royal, Leopardstown and Limerick.

Flanagan, with five rides and earlier successful on Joyau De Thaix reported “there were more clerical issues that physical problems to solve but today actually wasn't too bad.

“The declarations being out so early was a big help to us as I had all the vans packed up and ready to go on Saturday. The lads took the vans on Sunday so were able to enjoy their day yesterday.

“I have two lads up the north (at Down Royal), three at Leopardstown and three here today. The likes of today we have plenty staff so I'm grand but on days when we are short staffed and when I have only a few rides, I'll help. It always seem to work out.”

Regarding his second winner on the Gavin Cromwell-trained The King Of Prs, qualified pilot Flanagan added “I think the key was that he was keen the last day and today I felt the ground was dead so I dropped him out. It nearly went the other extreme today as he was almost behind-the-bridle but he has jumped fantastically.

“I put myself in a pocket to switch off but rounding the final bend, I thought I'd made my bed so had to lie in it. Fortunately I had enough horse to make the gap and get out. I knew I had a willing partner though and he has buckets of scope.”