Mossy Fen sweetened up by Molloy to preserve his enthusiasm

The long-absent Mossy Fen landed a few bets in the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle. 

Back from 503 days off the track and making his debut for owner/trainer Mark Molloy, the Milan gelding was available at 14/1 this morning and shortened from 9s into 13/2 before the off. 

Liam Quinlan 's mount made good headway approaching the straight to lead two out and fended off the challenge of Tranquil Sea on the run-in to score by half a length.

Mossy Fen was a Grade 2 winner over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies back in 2020 before losing his form. 

“He'd obviously been through a few academies and then he came to us,” said Molloy. 

“We've just played with him, freshened him up and he's come back to himself — we wouldn't have run if he hadn't. 

“He seems to be back enjoying life so we'll take it step by step. He's a lovely character of a horse.

 “It's been four years (since he won) and it's a long time. In his mind he's just brightened up in the past few months, which they need to do as well, they've got to want to do it. 

“He's not really a summer horse, it was just really finding an opportunity for him when he was ready. We just waited for him and it just happened to be now. 

“We said we'd started him off over hurdles, hopefully we'll go back chasing and have a bit of fun with him.”

Molloy is based at Crossogue House in Ballycahill, near Thurles, where his mother Veronica founded and runs the highly successful family-run Crossogue Preserves enterprise.

Quotes from Gary Carson