'This is lovely' - Pat O'Connor on Topothelane Pat O’Connor turned back the clock to record a ‘lovely’ win in division two of the Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle at Wexford as Topothelane scored in decisive fashion. The lightly raced nine-year-old won a point-to-point back in 2023 and joined O’Connor earlier this year after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 14/1 shot, available at double those odds earlier in the day, led off the home turn and soon asserted under Mike O’Connor. He galloped on strongly on the run-in to beat Bella Union by 11 lengths with 7/2 favourite Deise Crystal a further seven lengths back in third. O’Connor said, “I had given up training horses, but my daughters (Joanne and Deirdre) are very interested in them, so I got the licence back. “I have to thank one man, Dr Joe O’Keeffe from Tallow and his wife Una. They have a family practice in Tallow. “He told me he was giving up and asked me if I wanted the horse. It worked out well. “I’m at it a long time but I hadn’t the horses and had owners pass away. I wouldn’t be going out looking for people. This is lovely.” Quotes by Gary Carson
