Brother wins at Bellewstown on the way to Laytown

The combination of a seasoned pro on the equine side, and a talented apprentice up top proved profitable for those that followed in at 25/1 with My Good Brother scoring in the Holcroft Motors Drogheda Hill Sprint Handicap.

A great old servant for owner Oliver Curtis and trainer Tom McCourt, My Good Brother won his eleventh race, with Andrew Slattery taking the reins for the first time.

After My Good Brother defeated Ty Rock Brandy and Pillar by two and a half lengths and half a length McCourt said: “It's great to see the old horse coming back. He's had issues and it's hard to keep everything right with him.

“We let him off for a break a couple of months and the aim was to get him back for Laytown.

“I said to Andy 'do the best you can to get into the frame today' otherwise we might not have got into Laytown with balloting.

“He's a 48 horse today but he was 102 at his best. It's good to see him back to a bit of form as he's been a great old servant.

“He runs well on the beach and has been a little bit unlucky the last twice there. He jumped the water last year and the year before probably got there a little bit soon and pulled himself up a bit.

“Hopefully he'll go close there now.”

The Stewards fined J.H. Scott, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Amaretto Stone, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Amaretto Stone in accordance with the provisions of Rule 90.

The Stewards requested a report from T.G.McCourt, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of My Good Brother, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that this is a horse that has had joint issues in the past. They had been considering retiring him but decided to bring him back to get him ready for Laytown where he has run well in the past. He stated that this horse was highly rated in the past and felt that perhaps the break may have freshened him up today and brought about a return to form. Having considered the report the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

S. Foley, rider of Ty Rock Brandy trained by Miss Natalia Lupini, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount leaned right in the last two furlongs.

(GC & EM)