Just For Love provides Cleary-Farrell with seventh success

Seven pounds claimer Sean Cleary-Farrell notably won Killarney's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle on Just For Love (9/1) for his employer Willie Mullins today, defeating champion jockey Paul Townend into second place.

The Affinisea-sired mare made virtually all and while Paggane challenged early in the home straight, held her stablemate by 3.25 lengths, to provide Cleary-Farrell with his seventh success, and a fourth for champion trainer Mullins.

Cleary-Farrell commented “I jumped out and wanted to be handy but didn't mean to end up in front.

“I was happy enough being beside Paul (Townend) when I jumped off, but he left me early enough and she got into a rhythm in front and settled brilliantly. Racing down the back the final time, I could hear the other horses but didn't have to ask her as she heard them herself, and galloped home. She was brilliant.”

He added “I thought she ran a blinder the last day when we didn't go overly fast and she kept galloping. She hit the last (hurdle) very hard in Galway so maybe that might have affected her confidence but I still hadn't put her down coming here today.

“The rain is getting into the ground but it is still riding very nicely and she seemed to enjoy it.”