Digby delivers with Bangor-to-Ballinrobe brace Digby (18/1) followed up an overdue recent success with another win today, as the 10-year-old landed Ballinrobe’s McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle for owner Alan Smith, jockey Paddy O’Brien and trainer Dermot McLoughlin. The son of Tobougg ended a three-year losing spell in a Bangor handicap chase last month and today, raced prominently, led after the second-last and scored by 1.5 lengths from Jolie Jewel. Digby formed part of a McLoughlin-double at his lucky Fairyhouse Easter festival in 2022 and today the dual-Irish Grand National-winner stated “Digby won a good race at Fairyhouse a few years ago with Keith Donoghue making the running on him. He’s a much happier horse when he’s able to travel like that in front, and dictate. “He (O’Brien) said he was doing a half-speed everywhere today and was always happy. He travelled and galloped away. He said when he met the rising ground he took off with him again, so it was great and is a nice pot (€18,000 first prize) as well.” Quotes from Gary Carson
