Prickly & 'what could have been' - O'Grady

Trainer Edward O’Grady registered his second win in 24 hours in a Killarney 1m6f flat handicap as his tricky-to-train Prickly continued a good recent run of jockey Bill Lee, when landing the Plaza Hotel Handicap at the Kerry venue today.

Prickly today went clear of his rivals with a furlong and a half to race and in the end won eased down for a six lengths win over Sword Of The Lord.

The win was Lee’s fourth of the opening three days of the festival, having yesterday also steered O’Grady’s Le Vagabond to a course and distance win in the Kingdom Gold Cup.

Following today’s win, O’Grady stated “he may run in a conditions hurdle race at Down Royal next Friday, and go chasing at a later stage.

“He’s had four wind operations and could have been some horse if his wind was right. He worked well the other day with yesterday’s winner (Le Vagabond).”

Pricky was today recording his sixth career win, having previously won three bumpers, a maiden hurdle and dead-heated in another flat handicap win.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee