Monday's win betters weekend's woes Trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey Declan McDonogh enjoyed a better result at Down Royal today than at the Curragh last weekend, when securing success in the Coors Fillies & Mares Handicap with Nellcote (7/2). O’Brien and McDonogh had landed in hot water last Saturday following a running & riding enquiry into unplaced 250/1 shot Ar Son Na Cuise in a Curragh maiden, where connections incurred a heavy fine and big suspensions. Today, the Scott Heider-owned Nellcote raced wide and was produced with neat timing to score by three-parts of a length from Vanir . Afterwards former champion jockey McDonogh reported “it wasn't the plan to be where I was on Nellcote but there was a rush down to the first turn and I was getting a bit of pressure from the outside. I wasn't able to go, so had to leave her alone and let her find herself and get comfortable. "I had the option to come out and, from what I could see, I wasn't going to gamble and go in. She's very small, so I had plenty of horse at that stage and I just kept it simple down the outside. "She's Sottsass and she handled the ground well. I'd imagine she might have another run and she stays very well. I think she is only doing what she has to because she had a little look when she got there. It is a good sign." Quotes from Michael Graham
