Mayo on a high after Winters win with Granny Listowel wouldn’t be the same without a winner for Mick Winters, and the Kanturk trainer struck for the first time this week with Granny Biddy in the Tote Handicap Hurdle. The 10/1 chance was greeted back in typically vocal style into the winners’ enclosure after taking this 2m4f event under Donie McInerney. The six-year-old got a nice gap up the inner after two out, and landed in front with a fine leap at the last. She kept on really well on the run-in to beat the 7/2 favourite Tough But Honest by two and a quarter lengths. Queen Khaleesi was a further length and three quarters away in third, with Brave Deed in fourth. Winters said, “She is tough and stays well. She will go over fences in time.” Winning owner Thomas McNulty made the journey down from Swinford sporting his Mayo colours, and Winters commented, “When she won in Tramore he (McNulty) was awful cocky about beating Kerry but they did it. They are on a roll and you never know they could do it tomorrow.” Winters was also full of praise for the way stable lads are looked after on track saying, “The facilities they provide here at Listowel for stablestaff are superb. The lads are staying overnight and there are showers for them and a great canteen. It’s a real credit to them here.”
