'Plucky' Quail wins on first ride for Elliott Ireland won Fairyhouse's Lorna Brooke Ireland V Britain (Q.R.) Challenge Handicap Chase today as General Hubble (5/2f) led a '1-2' for the home team when providing Toni Quail with a winner on her first ride for trainer Gordon Elliott. The challenge is contested in memory of English jockey Lorna Brooke, whose sole Irish success came at today's venue nine years ago and, today, General Hubble (5/2f) raced prominently throughout before finishing well to beat Toofareastiswest (under Jack Hendrick) by six lengths. Fourth-placed Mullaghmore Wave (under Derek O'Connor) also represented Ireland, thus giving the home side an emphatic victory. Afterwards Elliott stated “he’d a good run last week and Toni gave him a plucky ride: the 7lb off his back wasn’t any harm. There is a lady riders race back here in a few weeks and we may come back for that.” Quail, who is based with trainer Sam Curling and was riding her fourth winner, added “General Hubble pricked his ears going to the last and I just did everything I could to get him over it. “That’s my first ride for Gordon and it’s great to ride a winner for him. I’m delighted to be a part of this race and it’s brilliant for amateur riders to have a race like this at Fairyhouse.” Quotes from Alan Magee
