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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

It's All The Way Home for Doyle

Tue 21st Apr 2015, 17:31

All The Way Home in action at WexfordAll The Way Home in action at Wexford
© Photo Healy Racing

All The Way Home was driven out by Sean Flanagan to land the two and a half mile handicap chase in Wexford at 10/1.

The grey mare was a second winner on the card for the sire Alderbrook. She tracked Old Supporter in second before getting upsides on that rival after the third last.

On the approach to the penultimate fence she grabbed the initiative as Old Supporter weakened out of it. Better Be Quick loomed up and looked a significant threat.

All the Way home fiddled the second last but responded well to Flanagan's urgings as they came to the last. There wasn't much between the pair but All the Way home jumped it in front.

Although Better Be Quick (8/1) stayed on he never got his head in front and was a length and a quarter in arrears at the line. There was an eight and a half length gap back to The Absent Mare in third at 11/4.

Sean Flanagan said: "She's very very brave. I suppose we were going that half a stride a little bit faster and she got a little bit low (at the second last) but she stuck her head out and galloped to the line.

"She's as honest as the day's long. She struggles a little bit on heavy ground. She finds it a little bit easier on that ground. She had a nice little mark compared to her hurdle mark and it helped her on the day."

Successful trainer Liz Doyle said: "I've been hitting the crossbar for that last two months so that is a huge relief. I've had seconds, thirds and fourths so it's great to get a winner. She wasn't right when she ran at Navan and she was on and off the bridle the last day.

"I cantered her on real quick ground last week and she seemed to love it. I put the blinkers on her to get her to travel, especially around here, and she got a magic ride. Sean gets this mare. You have one little bit to get out of her and he just leaves it as late as possible. He is just made for her. We will go again with her."

On the track she said: "I schooled Le Vent D'Antan around here last November and Davy Russell rode him. It was like he was on rails going around, it just rides much smoother going left-handed. They are finishing much safer, they are jumping much safer and I think it is a huge success.

"There hasn't been any fallers and they've done a wonderful job watering. We don't need fallers here at the last fence in front of the stands anymore. They need to get that right so it looks as if its a good call."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.