Rough And Tough lives up to his name under Coen

Rough And Tough proved to be exactly that, recording his second course win in two days, when landing the Dine At Gowran Park Handicap at the Kilkenny track.

Successful over an additional furlong here yesterday, the Tough As Nails gelding had no issues with dropping back in trip here, as he always travelled easily under Ben Coen.

Moving noticeably well entering the straight, he led over two furlongs out, staying on strongly to win by three-and-a-half lengths.

The 10/3f was providing trainer Michael Mulvany with a double on the card, having won the opening nursery with Dont Do Dramas

“It was nice to see him doing it, he's a good little horse,” said Mulvany.

“He's really strengthening into himself. Ben said that he travelled really well between the three and the two and quickened up as he liked. He said not to run him on anything but that ground, he said he really handles it well.

“We'll have to have a look and see what the handicapper does now.

“He showed yesterday that he can stay the trip and probably in time he'll get a mile-and-a-half.

“He's only just coming to himself, he's a different horse in the last couple of months. It took a while for him to fill into his frame, now that he has hopefully it onwards and upwards.

“Paddy Graffin (clerk of the course) said to me that he wasn't like a lad that ran yesterday as he was bouncing around the ring.

“Even though he's run a good few times he hasn't really that much mileage on the clock yet. Hopefully in time he'll grow into a nice horse.

“We'll have a look and see where we're going, he's after having two hard runs one day after now and you can't just keep dipping him.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson