McCann's confidence in Familiar Dreams well-founded

“She (Aine O'Connor) rode her like the best horse in the race and she did exactly the same as she did in Cork,” said winning trainer Anthony McCann after his Familiar Dreams (11/1 - 12/1 - 17/2) landed the Bar One Racing 'Bet 10 Get 50 Sign Up Offer' Mares Pro-Am INH Flat Race at Naas.

O'Connor was sitting pretty for much of the straight and though two rivals from in-form yards, Gavin Cromwell's Sixandahalf and Philip Dempsey's Sansrisk threatened danger, Familiar Dreams ultimately beat off the pair by three and a half lengths and three and three parts of a length.

“I couldn't believe the price she was this morning, the bookies didn't rate her at all," further reflected McCann.

“She worked very well last week and we were very happy to come here.

“We might give her a chance in the mares bumper at Fairyhouse. It's in 20 days time and it looked like she didn't have too hard of a race there, I know the ground will probably pull a wee bit out of her so we'll see.

“She'll go jumping if she's not sold, it could be hard to keep her now.

“She's a nice mare, she's still only five and she's a big mare.

“It's only a year ago that we started off here, she finished fourth. She had a couple of seconds, including to The Yellow Clay who I think has a massive chance in the bumper at Cheltenham.

“It's nice to get another one for the team at home because they all work hard.”

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Holly Brook trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

(GC & EM)