Recon Mission scores for in-form O'Callaghan

Trainer Michael O'Callaghan bagged his fifth winner this month when Recon Mission landed the Become A Member At Fairyhouse Nursery at Fairyhouse today.

The son of Kodiac was a winner first-time out at the Curragh in May and while he was beaten in two subsequent Listed races, today made a winning handicap debut from 84 when comfortably beating Lord Rapscallion by three lengths.

O'Callaghan later stated “he's a lovely horse and we thought a lot of him when he won his maiden first time out.

“In the Marble Hill Stakes he just raced a little bit keenly and was a little too enthusiastic and on the ground at the Curragh that day he didn't get home.

“He won his maiden on heavy ground and he's won there, on what Leigh said, is proper good ground so he's quite versatile that way.

“He's probably a stakes horse with just a little bit of ease in the ground - that's what we thought of him all along.

“The day he ran in Tipperary he came home with a sore shin and we just sat on him then, which we had to do with a lot of the horses this year as the ground was so quick.

“We took our time and said we'd wait for a bit of kindness to come back in the ground. Thankfully now it's paying off.

“He's a lovely horse. There is another nursery for him in a few weeks but the handicapper might be hard enough on him after winning three lengths.

“There is also a Listed race over five in a few weeks for him as well so we might go for that.”

Quotes from Gary Carson