Happening gives Geraghty/Hourigan double

Michael Hourigan and Barry Geraghty teamed up for a quick double when Whats Happening took the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle at Listowel. Shinahwil made a bold bid from the front in the two-and-a-half mile contest but was tackled at the second last by the 3/1 second favourite.

Geraghty drove his mount into the lead before the final flight and he galloped on well to record a three-and-three-quarter-length winning margin.

11/4 favourite Reafadda came through to claim the runner-up spot as Shinahwil cried enough on the run-in.

The winner was making a return to hurdling having taken a bumper at Kilbeggan a fortnight ago.

“He belongs to a nephew of mine Billy, who is a son of my brother. It's the first horse I have for him.

“I gave him the dam and he bred a couple of horses off her. This is the first one he has raced.

“He really wants better ground. We'll give him a little break now and maybe look for something in November.

“I don't know what went wrong with him when he ran in Mallow but he was beaten as soon as they started.

“I think he will make a top horse and I have a great team of horses this year. It's something to really look forward to.

“I left Listowel one year without a winner and it nearly broke my heart! Having two today has made up for it.”

Hourigan and Geraghty had also teamed up successfully with Run With The Wind in the previous contest and the winning rider said of the double:-

“We were concerned about the ground for both horses but they did it well.

“Run With The Wind had a great chance and picked up well going to the last and it was a good performance.

“With this fella we really fancied him and the further he went the more we were fancying him – he was good.

“He had a look around going to the second last but jumped the last well and I'd say he's a horse with a future.”

Hourigan also saddled Clear Hills (fourth under Adrian Heskin) and The Crafty Butcher (seventh for Ruby Walsh) in the race.

(On course reporting by Alan Magee)