Fill The Tank and Mark McDonagh win the Class Grass Handicap Hurdle Healy Racing © Photo Healy Racing
Aengus King has his small string in rude health at the present time and the County Clare trainer was back in the winners' enclosure following the win of Fill The Tank in the Class Grass Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon.
Amongst the winners at the Listowel Harvest Festival last week, Newmarket-On-Fergus based King, enjoyed further success with the nine-year-old son of Gold Well.
Carrying the trainers own colours, Fill The Tank took over from long time leader Rockon Henry just before entering the straight but faced a strong challenge from favourite Read To Return from the second last hurdle.
However, despite the best efforts of jockey Peter Carberry, he couldn't find a way passed Fill The Tank who rallied gamely under Mark McDonagh.
“He's had a couple of issues over the last year-and-a-half. As you can see we didn't run him for a long time,” said King.
“I thought we ran him a bit too early here last time after he had won in Limerick so we gave him a month off this time.
“We're doing a lot of flat work with him as he has an issue with his back.
“I told Mark to be there or thereabouts, to stay out on the better ground and up with the pace.
“He has a bit of toe, the old horse. He looks clumsy but he has a bit of toe.
“It'll be a month at least before he runs again. I have him entered on Thursday but he won't run. It was a choice between today or Thursday and I'm delighted it was today.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
