Fogarty rides first winner since injury

Jockey Mikey Fogarty partnered his first winner since returning from a serious injury when steering Pollywollydoodle to win what turned out to be an unfortunate renewal of the Graun Hill Suite For Parties Beginners Chase at Tramore today.

Fogarty fractured two vertebrae in a fall from Bishopsfurze at Aintree in April and has been absent since returning to action on September 27.

In today's five runner race, Pollywollydoodle made all for her easy 14 lengths win over Asockastar but the race was marred by the loss of both Wells China and Tikka Light Wells China slipped up on the bend after six out while Tikka Light fell at the next fence, in the process hampering Royal Chief which eventually continued well adrift of the leading pair for a distant third place.

Afterwards winning trainer Eoin Griffin later stated "it was a grand opportunity for her and she did it well. We ran her in Wexford and the ground was a bit quick and she came back a little bit sore. We were then forced to give her the summer off and this has been the first opportunity we've had to run, so it is nice to get a win.

“She is not a horse that'll go on real winter or heavy ground and we have a window now where she has her ground and we will try and pick up a winners' of one.

“We might try and get a bit of black-type for her as she's well-bred and it'd mean a lot to her owner Maurice as he breeds a lot of horses. I'd imagine she will be going to a stallion in the spring.”

Quotes from Donal Murphy