Image © Healy Racing
Lee Shanahan had a day to remember at Cork on Easter Monday as he continued his successful partnership with Ryehill to gain his first victory on the track in the John Thomas McNamara Series maiden hunter chase.
Lee Shanahan had a day to remember at Cork on Easter Monday as he continued his successful partnership with Ryehill to gain his first victory on the track in the John Thomas McNamara Series maiden hunter chase.
The pair had run out wide-margin winners at Bellharbour in early February before only finding Boss Robin too good in a similar maiden hunter chase at Thurles last month.
The form of that race received a number of timely boosts over the weekend with his Thurles conqueror Boss Robin claiming the Joseph O’Reilly at Fairyhouse 48 hours, whilst the preceding race at Cork had been won by Carrig Wells, who had finished behind him in fourth.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained seven-year-old stalked Glady Max into the home straight, and when that rival began to thread water after a mistake at the second-last fence, Lee Shanahan’s mount struck the front and galloped resolutely to a 17-length victory.
The Knockanohill maiden winner Bigbraveboy was a further 15 lengths adrift in third.
“It’s brilliant, I can’t get over it. I rode him in his winner-of-one point-to-point, and he was great. It's my fourth winner this season, I’ve had three point-to-point and one on track, so I’m absolutely delighted,” Shanahan said.
“He is real behind-the-bridle type of horse, but I wasn’t too worried about that because he is a real staying horse, the further he went, the better he is.
“We did fancy him without saying it coming here, and in fairness to the lads, they didn’t put any pressure on me.”
