Joseph O'Brien doubles up with Coward

Cowardofthecounty completed a quick double for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle at the Curragh this afternoon when making a winning debut in the Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden.

The Ballydoyle colt Whistlejacket went off an even-money shot in the six-furlong contest and looked to have his rivals in trouble as he made the running and travelled best passing the two pole.

Cowardofthecounty showed a nice attitude however as he stayed on to press the front-running favourite at the furlong pole.

The Kodi Bear colt got on top in the last 100 yards to record a convincing two-and-a-half length win in the colours of E S Racing.

Cowardofthecounty had cost 100,000gns as a yearling. He is a half-brother to two winners and from the family of Footstepsinthesand.

O’Brien said:- “This fella looked like he could be a bit special at home but you’re never really sure with a two-year-old until they go to the races.

“He’s a particularly laidback horse and couldn’t have been more impressive. He’s a big horse, well over 500 kilos which for a two-year-old at this stage is a lot.

“He could go straight for the Coventry now. He’s such a big horse I don’t know does he need to run again but we’ll have to see.

“We knew when the horse ran well in the first that there was a good chance this lad would run well too.

“A lot of people pitch in two-year-olds with an older horse to give them a guide, but we don’t and keep the two-year-olds together.

“They are the first two colts that we have ran and it looks like we have a couple of nice ones!

“They have both been away once and today is just the second time they have been on grass. We don’t drill our two-year-olds and like them to progress. It bodes well on what they have done today.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)