Duffys Hodey gives connections a dramatic double Trainer Philip Rothwell and principal jockey Tiernan Power Roche combined for satisfying Fairyhouse doubles today with Duffys Hodey (5/2f) landing a dramatic renewal of the concluding 2m4f Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle. Race leader Blue Reed had opened up a huge lead from halfway and, at the third-last, maintained a half-furlong advantage with Duffys Hodey struggling in fourth-place. Blue Reed traded at 1.16 in-running when still well-positioned at the second-last but his lead soon became a wobbly one, and was indeed passed on the run-in by Duffys Hodey, who scored by 5.5 lengths. Rothwell, earlier successful with Workinonadream, later quipped “I would hate to come up against the runner-up (Blue Reed) over two miles - he would have won a furlong! “Tiernan’s 7lb is invaluable: he rides very well and I’m very lucky to have him on the team. It was very hard for him to sit where he was there and ride the race he did, but he did it. Tiernan was a big asset today. “The horse has been a rock of consistency and I thought he ran well at Limerick in Christmas.” Eight-year-old Duffys Hodey registered a first success only last month and Rothwell notably added “I got fined €3,000 by the IHRB for stopping him one day in Limerick (November 2021) and that same day he had a fractured pelvis so I had to leave him off for three months. “The Limerick racecourse vet and the IHRB vet didn’t agree on the day, so I paid my €3,000. I’m glad I’m getting something back years later but how they ever came to that decision, I’ll never know. “I’m delighted for the lads (owners Fairwood Racing Syndicate) and it’s my own little yard syndicate with a few friends of ours who are with me years. We’ve had lots of winners and please God we’ll have lots more.” Quotes from Gary Carson
