Lisleigh Lad and Eoin O'Brien negotiate the final fence© Photo Healy Racing
Eleanor Broderick fulfilled a lifetime ambition at Fairyhouse today as the Fermoy-based restricted trainer registered a first racecourse winner, with Lisleigh Lad (16s — 11/1) in the INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Hunters Chase.
Owned, trained and bred by Broderick, the six-year-old had previously won two point-to-points and defeated 2021 Galway Plate winner Early Doors in scoring last season.
Today Lisleigh Lad, under Eoin O'Brien, faced prolific point-to-pointers Er Dancer and Ballyphilip - chasing a a seven-timer, and while pressed by Ballyphilip in the home straight, had the measure of that rival when he fell at the final fence, bringing down beaten Er Dancer.
A chuffed Broderick later revealed “it’s my first winner, I’m 71 years of age in two weeks' time and I've always dreamt of winning a hunters chase. I've had 10 point-to-point wins but this is a huge deal for me and for everyone behind me.
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Lisleigh Lad powers to emotional victory at Fairyhouse
“The team includes my partner Matt Slattery and Grace, who rides out for me along with Eoin (O'Brien) and Darragh Allen, who are my jockeys: I'm so lucky to have a good team behind me.
“My father is born and bred in Listowel, loved hunting and was involved in the Avondhu Hunt and I actually rode three point-to-point winners. I wasn't much good but rode with the likes of Timmy and Johnny Callaghan, Pat Healy, Nicky Dee, Jimmy Mangan and even Ted Walsh: they knew I was harmless so were good to me and I had a good grounding!
“I actually worked a horse in Jimmy's (Mangan) the other day.
“The last time I was here with a horse was 34 years ago with my father and we had Ashpit finishing fourth in the Joseph O’Reilly."
She added “fitness was on Lisleigh Lad's side today, he was very straightforward and God he won easy! I know the other horse fell at the last but he would still have won it.
“This fella is a good horse, but he wasn’t right last year. He won two (point-to-points) and beat Early Doors in Kildorrery. He came in this year a different horse, finished fourth in Curraghmore where he blew up, but was spot on for today.
“I don’t think he’ll go back point-to-pointing now and we’ll stay inside the rails. He’s a great jumper. I have two nice four-year-olds for point-to-points but they’re big and won’t be running until next year.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
