Mission strikes again for Rothwell Mercury Mission followed up on his St Patrick’s Day success when running out a game winner of the Locke Burger Novice Handicap Hurdle at Limerick this afternoon. The Ulysses gelding had opened his account at Wexford last month and went to post 11/8 joint-favourite today. He jumped to the front from Anyourbirdcansing four from home but was headed by that rival turning for home. Philip Rothwell’s charge was back on terms over the penultimate flight and despite hanging to his right he asserted before the last to post a six-length success. "He isn't the simplest horse in the world as the demonstrated in Wexford and again out there today,” said Rothwell. “It is my first season with him and he must have been a 400-race maiden but I've loved him from day one despite him being quirky.  "They went very steady today and Tiernan did right to make his move. “I thought Gavin's horse (Cromwell, The Dancing Tree) would prefer softer ground and when I read through the form, I thought he had a great opportunity to follow up. It looked a very poor race but I'm glad to win it." He added:- "Tiernan is a very nice fella and the biggest thing about him is he is a team player at home. He has a good attitude but I think the whole Conditional Jockeys title is getting to him a bit.  "I thought he was too stressed with the whole thing recently so I told him to relax and enjoy it. That puts him four winners clear of John Shinnick so he has a good chance of winning it. "I thought he would take it in his stride but it actually means a huge amount to him." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
