Well-backed Whatsyourstatus gains overdue win

Well-backed Whatsyourstatus (morning 25/1, returned 13/2) ended a long lean spell when landing Clonmel's Bulmers Zero (QR) Handicap Chase today, scoring for owner/trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin and jockey Harry Swan.

The ten-year-old's previous win was in a Cork handicap hurdle in October 2020 and today, under a fine forward-going ride from Swan, beat runner-up Room To Roam by six lengths.

O'Loughlin reported “that was a while coming and for a long time, we were scratching out heads wondering what to do with him. I thought we would drop him back to 2m4f and make more use of him, he had gone down the ratings and truth be known, it wasn't the strongest race in the world.

“He took a run on softish ground at Downpatrick the last day and it helped get his confidence back. We had been at the end of our tether with him to get him healthy but he takes minding, is trained out of a field now and they were things we had to learn. In fairness to the handicapper he had given him a chance also.”

He added “we were in a yard from which I couldn't get him or any of the horses to run well and moved yards last August which has helped. I am currently renting a barn from Cormac Farrell in Bunclody and from August on am taking over the whole yard and will have room for 33 horses - I'll try to fill them.”