INNOVATIVE, passionate part-time trainer Martin Hassett completed a second career double at Clonmel on Thursday with handicap winner No Grey Area’s (9/2) and Mary Frances (4/1), who easily defeated a former Irish Grand National winner to win the featured Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan (Peugeot) Hurdle.
The 2019 Irish Grand National hero Burrows Saint reappeared in the feature but was no match for diminutive Mary Frances, under Rachael Blackmore, who wore him down before the straight and eventually won by all of 45 lengths.
Hassett has 12 horses and following the race stated: “The brother Michael, who was 63 yesterday, rides her out every morning – he’ll often say to let the young lads ride her and I’d say ‘no, you know her’ and she gives 110% every morning and at the races.
“I’m delighted for John (O’Mahony, owner) because they had some misfortune lately and Mary Frances is named after his mother. I’m delighted for the O’Mahony family as it is a big boost for them and I hope they’re smiling.
“God only knows what she’ll get after today and if it was really soft I wouldn’t mind going back to the Galmoy Hurdle again next year – she wants bog.”
He added: “We must be the only yard who ride out with lights – we start every morning at 5.30am and have them finished at 7am and then I go to work in Coolmore. We installed seven or eight floodlights and we have 12 riding out.”
Half an hour earlier Hassett’s No Grey Area’s (in the colours of Deirdre Hassett) won under amateur jockey Pa King.
“He has been threatening and threatening and it is no secret we think a lot of this horse,” Hassett revealed.
“It is no coincidence he is in the same box as The Conditional (subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner for David Bridgwater); we got offers to sell him last year but we said we’d sit and suffer and I know I’ll be proved right,” he added.
Rachael Blackmore also recorded a double on the afternoon as she steered the Henry de Bromhead trained Epson Du Houx (1/1 favourite) to win the opening Clonmel Supporters Club Beginners Chase, in the Gigginstown House Stud colours.
The French-bred was a final-fence faller on his chase debut last month and while he showed a tendency to hang slightly left today, also put in some spectacular leaps, particularly at the third last.
Blackmore later commented: “He took a heavy enough fall the last day so it was great to get him back jumping in that manner today. He can be quite hard on himself but relaxed today so that was a big help.”
The other chase on the card, the ClonmelRaces.ie Novice Handicap, was won by the Seamus Neville owned and trained Notice To Close, under Brian Hayes.
The grey gelding won at Cork on November 22nd and following today’s second course win, jockey Hayes reported: “He will be an exciting horse for staying handicap chases.
“He’s a real tough horse, won last week in Cork when he had a hard race, but in fairness to him pulled out again today and did the same.”
Trainer Philip Fenton registered his second winner in three days as his Stand Off justified 10/11 favouritism in the two-mile Irish Racing Industry Fundraiser Maiden Hurdle, for owner John Power and jockey Mark Walsh.
Following the race Fenton said of his winner: “We’ll more than likely look for a handicap next and I don’t think he wants the ground as heavy as that.
“This is all a bit of practice on the way to jumping fences and I think he’ll be alright.”
JOCKEY Danny Hand registered a first winner for Willie Austin with 10-year-old mare Crack On Corrie (11/4f) in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Crack On Corrie is from the family of Austin’s homebred superstar Danoli and following the race he said: “Her family was good enough and she might have enough racing when this season is over, although we have a lot of mares breeding at home and don’t want any more.
“That’s Danny’s first winner for me; I think I’ll have to employ him in the future!”
The concluding Next Meeting Jan 7 Maiden Hurdle was won by 40/1 chance Pepite De Belle, for trainer Sam Curling and jockey Jordan Gainsford.
“It is great to get one for Pat Fennessy who has three or four fillies with me. Jordan is very good and you’ll be hearing a lot more of him – he is great value for the 7lb claim,” Curling said afterwards.
“She was going to be third to Appreciate It the last day and made a bad mistake and had previously ran well in a bumper at Downpatrick.”