One Fine Morning impresses at Limerick© Photo Healy Racing
One Fine Morning (5/1) easily reeled in front-running Jakros and powered away from the second last to win in Limerick for JP McManus, Ronald O’Leary and Alain Cawley.
“It’s a wonderful day and it’s wonderful to be here. Everyone is in a giving mood. A lot of people put a lot of work into it,” JP McManus said of this meeting to aid seriously injured jockeys JT McNamara (who rode for him) and Jonjo Bright.
“JT is not here, but he’s not forgotten. There was so much goodwill towards this day. Who would ever imagine a Monday would be like this?”
Jakros (8/1) had his rivals well stretched out as he jumped well and tanked along in front in this two and three quarter mile handicap chase. Despite being hampered when Moncherie fell four out, Alain Cawley quickly got bottom-weight One Fine Morning back on the bridle and the pair eye-catchingly cut through the field into second behind him.
Jakros was beginning to tie up in the home straight and once Cawley delivered One Fine Morning at the second last the result was never in doubt as the pair drew away for a 20-lengths success.
Alain Cawley said: “He travelled and jumped all the way and that’s what you have to do around here. He got in a bit close to the last, but had the race in the bag by then.
“It’s great to be back. I’m doing OK in England and I’m loving it over there. Tom George and Fergal O’Brien are the two main yards I’m riding for. I was in France yesterday for Tom George.”
Ronald O’Leary added: “It’s a lovely day to have a winner. He jumped well, but he got badly hampered down the back and I thought his chance had gone.
“He’s a good ground horse so he’ll probably have a break now.”
The UK-based jockeys won the challenge against their Irish-based rivals on a scoreline of 131-103.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
