O'Brien now 6 up on Keane in championship battle "There is six winners in it now but it is still possible. It looks like it will be hard for Colin (Keane) now but you never know,” said champion jockey Donnacha O’Brien after winning the second division of the Reaney’s Of Galway Supporting NUIG Volunteer Services Abroad Handicap on Grace To Grace. A third winner on the day for O’Brien’s brother Joseph, Grace To Grace signalled that this breakthrough success was in her for some time. She shed her maiden tag at the twelfth attempt, stepping up to this near mile and a half distance to slam Loudest Whisper by four and a quarter lengths. Joseph won earlier on this card with the Shane Crosse-ridden Thundering Nights. He was also on the mark at Wexford. Anything Will Do did the needful for him at Bettyville, under J J Slevin. The successful jockey elaborated: "I didn't know anything about her (Grace To Grace), obviously it was a big step up in trip so that was a question mark but she seemed to stay that really well.” Meanwhile on the news of Magical’s retirement Donnacha commented: “She’s a superb mare and owes us nothing." It now stands at Donnacha O’Brien 108, Colin Keane 102, in the race to be champion for 2019. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Vocal Duke, trained by Brendan W.Duke, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. (TW & EM)
