Shake The Bucket collects a 15th win

Remarkable horse Shake The Bucket bagged his 15th career win at Limerick today as the Madden-family treasure won the Bet With Tote At Limerick Handicap Chase, four weeks following his previous win on the all-weather at Dundalk.

Ridden today by Grand National winner Niall 'Slippers' Madden, the 12 year old son of Ashkalani improved to lead before two out and in the end stayed on in typically game fashion to score a three lengths win over Whatsinthecorner

Following the race the winning jockey stated “he is a legend of a horse and he just loves racing. He travelled great and jumped well on what was his first run over fences since November.

“Dad (winning trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden) loves him and I'd say if Dad had a chance he'd sleep in the bed with him!

“He is 12 now and is still shows plenty of enthusiasm. That's his grade and that's what he is, but he's an auld star.

"He won a four-year-old point-to-point for us and I won a few races on his mother (San Diego). He is home-bred and means an awful lot to us."

Carrying the colours of the jockey's sister Sarah Ann Madden, Shake The Bucket began his career with a third-placed finish in a point-to-point at Horse And Jockey in March 2011.

In an amazingly healthy and sound 116-race career he has raced multiple times every year since 2011. That year he ran 12 times and has followed up in the intervening years by running 15 times (in 2012), 16, 15, 10, 17, 13,13 with today being his 116th career start and his fifth outing of 2019.

His 16 wins have been gained in a point-to-point, ten flat handicaps at Dundalk, three hurdles and two chases.

Quotes from Donal Murphy