High Nellie leads Ravenhill at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Two horse trainer Michael Bowe has his pair of mares in excellent form at present and registered a second success in five days at Limerick today as High Nellie made all to win a thrilling Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Hurdle.
High Nellie fought off the persistent challenge of Ravenhill from the second last flight and while she appeared likely to be passed on the run-in, battled well for a neck win.
Bowe, handler of legendary front-running hurdler Limestone Lad, knows a thrilling finish when he sees one and later quipped “I thought have the stands were going to have a heart attack and it was the most exciting finish I've seen in a long long time!
“And for a minute I thought I lost my jockey before the post — I was going to kill him, but luckily he hung on! I think the saddle slipped sideways and he lost his balance.”
He added “if ever a mare deserved to win, it was her as she tried her heart out and the little drop of rain helped her too.
“She may go to Galway on the Sunday for a conditions' chase next and we'll see how she comes out of this.
“Cathal loses his 7lbs claim today and can only take 5lbs off from now on, which is a tragedy!”
Regarding his own training arrangements, he said “I have just the two mares in training, herself and Jaime Sommers (a winner at Tipperary on Sunday) and they're two darlings to train. They're sound, consistent, healthy and you couldn't wish for two nicer mares.
“I'll have a couple of geldings to come in for the winter and hopefully they'll live up to the standard of the mares have set.
“I don't (look for new owners) - my heart wouldn't be in it to train for anybody else, and it's our own homebreds I train.”
