Quornofamonday and Keith Donoghue© Photo Healy Racing
Both divisions of the Bar One Racing 'Price Boosts All 28 Favourites At Cheltenham' Handicap Hurdle at Naas went to trainer Philip Dempsey and jockey Keith Donoghue, split two going the way of their Quornofamonday (4s from 5s, and bigger earlier).
Just over half-an-hour earlier Hillsdale did the needful for the local yard, and in another well-contested big field affair Quornofamonday gained reward for some previously consistent efforts to defeat Chosen Saint by a convincing six and a half lengths.
Commented Dempsey at the number one spot:- “It was great, he deserved that as he was knocking on the door.
“It's a good bunch of lads that have him, from Clogherhead. They bought him off Keith's brother (Ian) who trained him for his point-to-point.
“He was only a shell of a horse last year. He's been backing up a couple of runs there and I'd say that ground was good for him, not quite heavy more in between.
“He's a big horse, he was second in his point-to-point and took a bit of time.
“He jumped a lot better today, he's an awkward oul devil and can be like an octopus sometimes. He would nearly jump off his hind leg first.
“He's made a mistake a few times when you'd want him, at the last, but he was good today.”
S. Fitzgerald, rider of The Lucky Lobster (GB), trained by Declan Queally, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount gurgled in the final four furlongs.
(GC & EM)
