Michael O'Hare and Andrew Lynch experienced the ups and downs of the game at Punchestown yesterday with a win for Turner Brown and a defeat for the heavily-backed Henro Boy and the pair were back in the number one berth at the County Kildare venue today courtesy of Sweet Shock in the Thoroughbred Trail Weekend Maiden Hurdle.
The victorious German-bred, a half-brother to Sweet Wake (a seven time winner) and an expensive purchase at Baden-Baden himself back in 2006, stayed on stronger on the run-in here in this two mile six furlong event than the flattering to deceive Rivage D'Or Of course Sweet Shock was part of the legendary three timer (at odds of 265/1) landed by the Coolstown Stud outfit almost a year ago at Naas when the O'Hare’s "made a nice few bob in doubles and trebles."
Michael today said of the five-year-old, who runs in the colours of his mother Tracey, wife of Barney, of Bar One Racing fame: "He jumped well and we have no plans from here. Hopefully he'll improve again from this. Andrew is giving my horses some confidence at the moment and he is a great rider."
