Is That Love "on overtime" now after 4th win

Twice a winner on the all-weather at Dundalk back in March, Is That Love (Cian MacRedmond up) today followed up on a Sligo claiming victory from 10 days ago in division two of the Fairyhouse Racing From Home Handicap.

For owners Mark and Gary Devlin, and Joseph McCrory, the 4/1 market-leader raced in mid-division on the inner, and he was pushed along in fourth two furlongs out.

The Es Que Love gelding made headway to dispute the lead a furlong and a half out.

Ridden and in front a furlong out, the Ado-McGuiness-trained victor was clear when briefly jinking inside the final furlong, keeping on well to beat Majestic Matriarch by two and a half lengths.

“I would have given him away last September! We got a little bit of a wind job done on him at the end of the year and he's won twice at Dundalk and now twice on the grass so after this he's on overtime,” said McGuinness.

“He's improving all the time. I have him in at Roscommon on Monday and also in a claimer at Tipperary on Tuesday.

“He'll definitely be going to one of those as I'd say the handicapper won't be too nice to him. He won't be in the 65 bracket for much longer.

“He's a fun horse and the owners are great supporters of mine.”

The Stewards met to consider a report from Ms Joan Taylor, IHRB Veterinary Officer that two runners trained by Lee Smyth became a concern to her and her assistant when being microchipped in the stable yard. Ms Taylor stated that Adams Barbour (4th Race) and Dolce Sicily (5th Race) had a strong smell of menthol from the muzzle area on close examination. Lee Smyth stated that he applied Olbus Oil to the outside of the muzzles when fitting them in the stable yard. He confirmed that he had used this product on many occasions in the past. Having considered all the evidence including the active ingredients contained in Olbus Oil, the Stewards were satisfied that there were prohibited substances contained within to which the horses may have been exposed and pursuant to Rule 18 (a)(b) & (c), they ordered the withdrawal of Adams Barbour (4th Race) and Dolce Sicily (5th Race) and ordered samples be taken from both animals for analysis.

(GC & EM)