Teed Up and Conor Clarke win at Galway © Photo Healy Racing
Teed Up added to what had already been a memorable week for the Mee family, when justifying odds on favouritism, in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Galway.
With 15 non runners, the race cut up considerably from the declaration stage but the Emmet Mullins trained winner would have been a leading contender in any case.
Second here earlier in the week, the five-year-old gelding jumped much better on this occasion, always looking to have matters in hand.
Jockey Conor Clarke, riding just his second winner over jumps, kept it simple from flag fall, tracking the pace setting A Mere Bagatelle He allowed his mount to stride on after jumping the second last, before making a conscious decision to come towards the centre of the track approaching the straight.
A good leap at the final flight put the race beyond doubt, allowing Clarke the opportunity to salute the crowds as he passed the winning line.
Emmet Mullins said, “It’s a great day for Conor who joined me earlier in the year. That’s the second winner he’s had for me and hopefully things will start getting into gear for him soon. A winner at the Galway Festival is great for any young jockey.
“He was 4lb out of the handicap on Friday so he had 4lb less here. He’s a horse that loves the track. He had two wins and a second here for Ken Condon on the Flat and I suppose that was a big draw to get the Mees involved in the horse.
“He’s a bit lairy in front but he definitely loves that hill. He won on heavy ground on the Flat so there was no worry about the ground. If anything that is the ground he wants.
“He’ll be kept on the go and will possibly mix it back on the Flat. He’s on a mark of 82 on the Flat which left him in limbo here this week as he didn’t get into any of the Premier Handicaps and all the other ones were 50-80.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
