Heaven Help Us and Richie Condon at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Leading figures from the greyhound industry were on the mark in the opening Grade B Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins (Mares) Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown today as Heaven Help Us was an appropriate winner for 'both codes' trainer Paul Hennessy.
The race is named in honour of late Champion Trainer Paddy Mullins, a neighbour and friend to Hennessy as a child, with Heaven Help Us crediting 7lbs claiming jockey Richie Condon with a career highlight when holding on for a neck win over Global Equity
Winning trainer Hennessy is better known as a trainer of greyhounds and while his dogs have won the English, Irish and Scottish Greyhound Derbies, did taste Cheltenham success last October with Heaven Help Us, who carries the colours of leading greyhound owner John Turner.
Paddy Power introduced Heaven Help Us at 33/1 for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and delighted Hennessy also reported “it’s a great thrill to win Paddy’s race. We were neighbours and when I was a young lad he would often bring me to the races and make sure I got home as well.”
He added “she was second here in a Grade 1. I wasn’t sure she was as mad about the fences. She’ll do it for you but was not really in love with it so we said we’d switch her back to hurdles.
“Niall Prendergast does all the work with her and Richie (Condon) came in to ride her out so with Danny not available he got the ride and can claim 7lb.
“She might go for a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown to try and get her into Cheltenham. I’d love to have a runner at the Festival.
“We were beaten in a final at Shelbourne last night when the gaps didn’t open so this is fantastic.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
