Coolnagorna Giggs and Eddie Power at Ballinrobe© Photo Healy Racing
The Patrick McLoughney silks have been on the go for a good few years now, including when carried to success in a couple of bumpers by the subsequent Grade 1 winner, Coolnagorna, back in 2001. He was unfortunately killed at Aintree in 2003 when racing for Jonjo O'Neill.
McLoughney (winning breeder too) has a nice servant at the moment now too in Coolnagorna Giggs a point-to-point scorer who deservedly got off the mark under Rules in the Ladies Day June 25th Beginners Chase at Ballinrobe.
Ending a barren spell for successful rider, Eddie Power, the Snurge gelding got the better of his main market-rival, Pigeon Creek by half a length.
The pair had engaged in an exciting duel from the back straight and Coolnagorna Giggs edged things from two out. However he may have idled a touch, leaving Pigeon Creek back into it but Coolnagorna Giggs found more close home to hold on.
Power said: "He's such an honest horse. Every day he goes out he gives it 110 percent and he's just been meeting horses with a bit more class. Today was his day. It was a middling race but he deserved it.
"He's a real, real honest horse. If you were to read his form you might think he wasn't genuine but he's too honest for his own good. Every day he gives 110 percent.
"The ground is soft – a small bit on the dead side.
Winning trainer Tom Hogan revealed: "Paddy McLoughney was one of my very first owners. I trained a mare called Agent Scully to win at Sligo in 1998 – my first – in those colours with Pat Shanahan up.
"He's a very genuine horse. How far he'll go I don't know. He jumps real well and gives his best every day. He's after earning place money every day he goes out.
"Please God Paddy will get a lot of fun out of him yet. He'd like a bit of summer ground and we'll play away with him for the summer." (EM)
