Paddy Brennan buoyed by victory of Leloopa at Kelso Paddy Brennan enjoyed many good days during his time in the saddle – but few wins will have given him as much delight as that of Leloopa’s surprise victory in the £100,000 Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso. Since retirement Brennan has set up a racing syndicate like his fellow weighing-room colleagues Noel Fehily and Richard Johnson. Not surprisingly Brennan sent his first horse to his old ally Fergal O’Brien, although the diminutive mare looked the second-string with the Harry Redknapp-owned Northern Air in the race. However, Tom Broughton, who was claiming 5lb, always looked comfortable on Leloopa, who cruised into contention on the home bend. The 22-1 chance breezed eight lengths clear in the long home straight, with Sunset Hill second. “There was big pressure on that race, we’d planned this for such a long time,” said Brennan. “I’m not a betting man, but at 50-1 even I had a bet on her. At Ludlow she needed the run, we knew she’d improve from that and big thanks to Fergal and his team, they produced her unbelievable today. “When you walk out of the weighing room as a jockey you get that buzz today, it’s unbelievable. “Fergal has a great bunch of jockeys, but if I had Kauto Star I’d let Tom Broughton ride him, he’s that good. The young lads don’t get the chances anymore because there’s less trainers and less horses. “You get the bigger trainers getting bigger and unfortunately we’re losing too many of the smaller trainers, hopefully my job is to support them.” Broughton told ITV Racing: “She’s small, but she’s mighty! She was so straightforward there. She kept finding when I asked and she’s gone away really nicely. “All you can ask is to have connections and owners that believe in you, Paddy doesn’t complicate it, he just said to go out and enjoy it and look what happens. “The boss will be happy, he knew we had two good chances.” O’Brien said from Newbury, where he enjoyed a double: “Tom Broughton gave her a lovely ride. She did a bit of work in the week and I was really impressed with her and thought she was a big price. What Leloopa lacks in size she makes up for in heart and guts and I’m delighted for the horse and for Paddy. “It’s the first one he’s bought for his syndicate and he will have a lot of happy people up there in Kelso today, they’ve won a right few quid, I think it was £58,000 to the winner and what a fantastic job done.” Just like at Newbury, it was double delight for the O’Brien team when Is This For Real (9-1) overturned the Patrick Mullins-ridden Kiwi Rush (5-4 favourite) in the concluding bumper. The winner was a notable one, too, coming in the colours of Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom. O’Brien said: “I was delighted with that and it’s the first horse Tony Bloom has had with us, so I’m thrilled it’s gone well. “Paddy bought him so it’s been a good day for his bloodstock business, it’s been great.”
