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John O'Riordan

John O'Riordan

Meitheal wins on Gleeson's first ride with 3lb claim

Sun 13th Oct 2024, 17:53

Meitheal and John Gleeson Meitheal and John Gleeson
© Photo Healy Racing

Having recently ridden his 50th winner, jockey John Gleeson made his first ride with a 3lb claim a winning one when Meitheal landed the concluding Racing Again November 3rd (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Cork.

Sent off 2/7f, the John and Thomas Kiely trained mare led early, before surrendering the lead to Faceman with well over three-quarters-of-a-mile to race.

The latter came under pressure early in the straight as both Meitheal and King Conor loomed up to throw down their challenges.

However, the Gleeson partnered mare who was traveling noticeably the better of that pair, went on over a furlong out.

Quickening inside the final furlong, the eventual winner kept on strongly to score by one-and-a-half lengths.

John Kiely said: "She had to battle and she did. We might now wait for the Listed bumper in Navan as she has a good pedigree: she will jump in her own time."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.