Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
Great start for Joyce but Maggie just a little too strong
Maggie Thunder (Declan McDonogh, orange) just holds off Misterio (Wesley Joyce, black and white)
© Photo Healy Racing
The Paddy Hassett trained Maggie Thunder (7/2 favourite) denied young Wesley Joyce a dream start to his riding career in the opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap at Dundalk.
Joyce, a graduate of the Moyross Youth Academy in Limerick, did nothing wrong for his boss Johnny Murtagh on Misterio (18/1), but they just had to yield to Declan McDonogh’s mount Maggie Thunder by a head.
Garrett Hassett, son and assistant, to the Clare handler and veterinary surgeon, said: “We were hopeful coming up - it’s a three and a half hours journey from Clare. Deckie seems to get a good tune out of her.
“She got an awful hike of 13lb after she won here in October and she got another 6lb for being second.
“She’s a very genuine, honest filly and we’ll see what is left for her here. She won’t go on soft ground and maybe she could go for some of the better handicaps during the summer off a light weight.
“Without this place she would have been in her box since September/October and wouldn’t have been back out until April so we are really appreciative of having Dundalk.”
(AM & EM)