Goahead helps to Make Foley's Day

Goaheadmakemyday justified the confidence of those that backed her into 4/1 from 5/1 on track, and from bigger earlier, in the Leinster Leader Mares Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown.

Racing for her owner/breeders, the O'Dowds, Tom Foley's charge fought off favourite A Hardy Nailer up the run-in for a two and three parts of a length win.

Roger Loughran did the steering on the now two time victor, a half-sister to Toushan eighth earlier on the card.

"We haven't had many winners the last while but things are changing a little bit anyway," said Foley.

"Things slowed up a little bit at the time I was told I had cancer. It slowed up things for me a good bit.

"We're going to soldier on now one way or the other. They tell me I'm not too bad now so I'm not going to dispute it with them! If we get an odd winner it would be a help.

"It's hard because to me the big man has destroyed it. I was just saying it to the lads there that when we came up here years ago it was seven different trainers getting the winners and seven different owners.

"That's what made racing really good. No-one wants to see one or two lads winning all the races. I'd be happy if seven lads could win but we can't say nothing and we'll take it as it comes.

"We have a good owner and that means an awful lot. This mare went to stud last year but didn't go in foal and that's why she's back.

"She just ran into problems as she acted up in the box coming home from the stud. It didn't help her.

"Maybe we are getting over things and with a bit of luck from the man above it'll help things to change and make it better."

(GC & EM)