Christy Roche admitted afterwards in the winners enclosure at Thurles yesterday that he didn't even know rider Shane Fitzgerald's name before he successfully deputised for amateur Paddy McCarthy aboard Silver Steel in the Glen Chase.
After the 8/1 shot comfortably held even money favourite Assessed, Roche revealed, 'Paddy was a few pounds over and couldn't do the weight so I got the first rider I saw and that happened to be this lad, Shane Fitzgerald. I said to myself he will do - if the horse is good enough they all do.'
Paddy McCarthy, who was three pounds overweight which forced the Curragh trainer to find a replacement, was fined #100 and cautioned with regard to his future conduct.
Mouse Morris looks to have a bright hurdling prospect in the shape of Hyderabad after the three-year-old scored a runaway success under David Casey in the 3-Y-O Hurdle. The Denny Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas is next on the agenda.
County Cork farmer Joe Hennessy recorded his first success since acquiring a permit nearly two years ago when Smart Design provided David Casey with his second winner of the afternoon in the second division of the maiden hurdle.
Noel Meade's Native Sessions justified strong support in the first division of the maiden hurdle before The Bunny Bolier completed a brace for the Meade/Paul Carberry alliance in the penultimate Horse and Jockey Hurdle.
'I was disappointed with his two runs after he won a bumper and is probably better fresh. He'll run in a winners race over hurdles but chasing will be his job in time,' said Noel Meade of Native Sessions.
