Grey start grey finish at Thurles
Queeny and Ricky Doyle
© Photo Healy Racing
After the heavy fog that enveloped the track earlier, appropriately enough we had two grey winners on the day at Thurles. Following a one two for greys in the 12.45 with Mick The Jiver beating Smadynium the day was completed by the mare, Queeny (Ricky Doyle up) doing the business in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Like herself, Queeny's dam Cullenstown Lady was a grey, and she won six races in the 1990s for Pat Hughes - under Charlie Swan, Shane Broderick and Richard Dunwoody.
Her 2010 mating with Milan produced Queeny, and she certainly didn't go un-backed today at 8/1. She eventually saw off favourite, Returntovendor by a length and a quarter.
Ronnie O'Leary has care of Queeny, shedding her maiden tag here at the seventh attempt, for Paul Hillis.
E. O'Connell, rider of Flemenspower trained by Lorcan Joseph Donnelly, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount suffered accidental interference at the start, stumbled and was unseated.
Meanwhile David Mullins was stood down with concussion after his fall from Diggin Deep in the previous heat. He'll have to be checked before resuming riding.
(TW & EM)