Only By Night and Derek O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
"I think she is a bit special" was jockey Derek O'Connor's summation of Only By Night after an October success and today followed-up as the heavily-backed favourite in Navan's Listed Coolmore NH Sires Bumper.
An easy winner at Limerick on October 21, the Affinisea-mare was again ridden by O'Connor and having returned the 5/4 favourite (from 3/1), travelled strongly and won well from promising runner-up Mongibello with €500,000 point-to-point purchase Qualimita filling third.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell was completing an Ireland-England double having earlier won a Cheltenham handicap chase for Only By Night's same owners the Russell family, with Malina Girl.
With some understatement, Cromwell commented “that was great, I'm delighted with that. She's a lovely mare and she ploughs through that ground. I'd say we'll probably stay in bumpers with her this season but I'll have a chat with the owners.
“She's a lovely mare and has a great temperament. She'll go on any ground, she's very straight-forward.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
