Stafford makes breakthrough under rules

Image © Healy Racing

Lawful Ruler is proving to be quite a horse for his regular rider, Tadhg Stafford, as having supplied the 19-year-old with his initial success in the saddle at Lisronagh in November, the Rule Of Law gelding then brought him a first victory on the racecourse at Cork on Easter Monday.

Their pair were sent off as a 22/1 shot for the John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters Chase, having been beaten 24 lengths at Downpatrick just eight days earlier.

The drier ground conditions brought out an improved performance from the seven-year-old, as having always raced up with the pace, he was one of three horses holding every chance coming down to the final fence, when challenged on either side by both Hunt Away and Begger.

That latter parted company with Hannah Phillips, which left Begger and Lawful Rule to fight out a thrilling finish up the run-in, and Lawful Ruler just found enough to defeat the well-backed Hunt Away by a head.

The patiently-ridden favourite, Hearts And Spades, finished a never-nearer third, by closing to within half-a-length of the pair at the line.

“It’s a great a day for the family, and a nice day to do it too – I’m very happy,” Stafford said.

“I heard him [Chris O’Donovan] come up my outer, and my lad was very honest when he came up there, and when push came to shove, my lad was very honest; he galloped it all the way out for me and jumped like a buck. 

“He’s been a great servant to the family now. He gives us two good days out. My mom and dad own it between them. So, yeah, it's a great family affair now, to be fair, so we're happy out there now.

“I'm based at Conor Maxwell, Ian Donoghue and I do a day with Shane Crawley. 

“We have a break and pre-training yard at home as well, my sister runs it, so we're busy out there as well.

“I have put plenty of work into the riding. Conor Maxwell's great to me there. He tidies me up plenty, and I go down to Niall McCullough in RACE, and he does plenty on the simulator with me too.”