Backinthere (right) and The Shoe Doctor jump the last together© Photo Healy Racing
Backinthere has proved a great flag-bearer for Mallow trainer Eamonn Gallagher in recent months, and she recorded a third win in just over three months in the Comeragh Handicap Hurdle.
The three-mile event was a searching test of stamina on ground changed to heavy following persistent rain throughout the day, and the top-weight was sent to the front soon after three out.
Adrian Heskin’s mount, an easy-to-back 7/1 chance, was strongly pressed by The Shoe Doctor going to the last.
However she soon shrugged off that challenger and kept on gamely on the run-in to beat Day Dream Boy (6/1 co fav) by a length and a quarter with Swift Lady (10/1) the same distance further back in third.
The Shoe Doctor, supported on track from 12/1 into 8’s, weakened quickly after the last to finish fourth.
Gallagher said, “She’s fair tough. When I declared her yesterday the ground was yielding and I might have taken her out if it had stayed dry.
“She needs it soft and will only run again if it keeps raining. Otherwise she will be put away to go over fences next season. She’s all stamina, stamina, stamina!”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
