Pat Foley: 'That was extra-special as it’s my first winner since Michael’s passing, and Alan’s first on the track since'
STUDENT RACEDAY: Cullig and Alan O'Sullivan win for trainer Pat Foley. Pic: Healy Racing
On a busy student raceday in Cork, trainer Pat Foley was quick to deflect praise to the late Michael O’Sullivan after his mare, Cullig, won the Gentlemen’s League Fegentri World Championship Qualified Riders’ Handicap Hurdle, doing so in the hands of Michael’s brother, Alan.
The mare, who had taken plenty of work and required plenty of time to get to this point, won well in the hands of the young rider, who was particularly impressive in regathering his mount when she met the last wrong and made a mistake. Once balanced, she quickened to win in great style.
"That was extra-special as it’s my first winner since Michael’s passing, and Alan’s first on the track since,” said Foley, for whom Michael was a friend and regular rider.
"Michael would have been part of this filly’s career. She wasn’t a straightforward filly at the start. It took a lot of getting the hang of her, and Michael played a huge part in doing that, in getting her to the stage at which she could go out and show what she was capable of. So, it’s extra-special that Alan was the one today that rode her when she finally showed what she can do.
“The owners are all from Cork (Buttevant) as well, so it’s a complete local success. Eugene and Maxine are here as well, and I’m delighted for them all.
“Plan A was to be handy with her, but I told Alan that if they were going too fast, leave her alone, and Alan couldn’t have done any better. In fairness to her, when he wanted her to go, she picked up and went away for him. She was a bit lairy in front, but she’s still learning so there should be a bit of improvement from her, hopefully.
“It’s great to get that on the page for the breeding, being a half-sister to Grade One winner Command Of Fleet, and her owners are breeders.”
The sunny day not alone suited the hordes of student racegoers, but the resultant quick conditions played to the strengths of Saint Le Fort, who took the opportunity to get off the mark in the Voodoo Rooms Maiden Hurdle.
Never worse than third, Philip Fenton’s horse took up the running between the third- and second-last and, after seeing off market leader St Cuthbert’s Cove, Brian Hayes’ mount ran on well to deny the effort of Bright Legend by a length and a quarter.
“At Clonmel the last day, for some reason, he didn’t handle the heavy ground,” said Fenton. “I know he ran in Limerick on heavy, but it was, maybe, looser, but in Clonmel we were disappointed because he got well beaten.
“The ground made a big difference to him today, and he jumped much better and seemed to excel over the two and a half-mile trip.
“From day one he was a good jumper but the last day he left it behind him a bit as he was a bit sloppy at some of the jumps. He’s a light-framed horse, so we can’t overdo it, so his next run could be a month away, but it looks as if he’s going to be okay.”
In the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2025 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle, there was some late drama as clear leader Jacovec Leader caught the top of the flight and tumbled to the ground. Recent Clonmel chase winner Luminous Light, trained by Anthony McCann, took full advantage to give Champion Chase-winning rider Sean Flanagan another winner.
Joseph O’Brien, who was amongst the Cheltenham winners when Puturhandstogether won the Fred Winter in grand style, sent out Carried With Love, another four-year-old running in the colours of JP McManus, to take the Welcome To Student Raceday 2025 Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
The grey filly is bred for better and the manner in which she took this admittedly modest-looking contest, suggests she can pay her way in the future. By Camelot, she is the first raced foal of Kotkikova, who won six of her seven runs over fences in France, and five of her seven over timber.
There was a great family success in the Racing Home For Easter Festival April 19-21 Handicap Hurdle as the Adrian Murray-trained Ciao Adios was ridden to victory by Eoin Kelly, whose father Michael owns the six-year-old mare.
Danny Mullins and Shark Hanlon teamed up to take the Social Packs For The Easter Festival Handicap Hurdle with 9-1 chance Hitak.
There was a huge upset in the finale, the ladies’ pro/am bumper, as 40-1 chance Ill Raise A Glass, trained by Martin Fitzgerald, gave young rider Laura Costello, a daughter of two-time champion point-to-point rider Dermot Costello, her first winner.
“I’ve had five point-to-point winners but that's my first track winner and I had a look over my shoulder to check I'd won,” admitted Costello.
“The lads filled me with confidence today and I watched the replays of her previous runs on softer ground, which she didn’t look to love. They thought she might like today's nicer ground, and it might have made the difference.”
