O'Brien strikes again in Careys Castle Handicap Chase Terence O’Brien added to his impressive recent record in Clonmel's Careys Castle Handicap Chase as Ik’s Man landed the spoils in the hands of John Shinnick. The Carrigtwohill trainer was winning the 2m7f event for the fourth time in the past five years and the 12/1 shot scored in some style. The point-to-point winner struck the front off the home turn and soon asserted under Shinnick, galloping on strongly after a fine leap at the last to beat Emily In Paris by nine lengths. The front-running Pebble Bleu finished a further half-a-length back in third. O’Brien said, “That was a long time coming to be honest. They’ve been involved in him a couple of years and he was placed a few times in those auction maidens. “We always thought that when he’d get a jump in front of him, that he’d improve but he got a leg, unfortunately, and we left him off for a year. “We didn’t think he’d be good enough to win a beginners’ chase, but he did everything wrong. He ran poorly, he fell, and his confidence went. “We thought we had him straightened up and thought he had a great chance in Limerick, but he turned in and fell in a hole and I couldn’t find any excuse for it. “We came here today as last-chance saloon, and I told the lads that I didn't have any major confidence in him, that he was doing the same thing at home - he was not any better or worse. "He’s off a handy mark and we’ll play away with him. He’s a fun horse.” Quotes by Tom Weekes
