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Starting Monday bridges five-year gap to land third success

Donagh O'Connor with Gillian, Caolan, Donnacha and Luke Scott. Donagh O'Connor with Gillian, Caolan, Donnacha and Luke Scott.
© Healy Racing Photos

Winless since March 2021, the Gillian Scott trained Starting Monday bridged a five-year-old gap when getting up late under Donagh O'Connor to land the Racing Again April 22nd Handicap at Gowran Park.

Sent off 16/1 in the colours of the Starting Monday Syndicate, the nine-year-old travelled well in the first five or six.

Ridden to challenge over a furlong out, the veteran found plenty in the closing stages, getting up in the dying strides to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths from stablemate Khormor Syd

“He’s definitely my favourite. I’m delighted that he’s won because now people can stop saying that he hasn’t won since 2021! He’s got that off his back anyway,” said Scott.

“I actually thought today wasn’t soft enough but he just jumped and travelled. He was delighted with himself in that grade.

“At the end of last year I stepped him up to a mile-and-a-half because it was going to be his last race and I was going to retire him but he ran so well we said we’d keep going.

“I’m thrilled for the owners as they’ve stuck by him.

“I’m delighted with the other horse, who was second. I’m thrilled with him.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

1st
16/1
Tote €17.00 €3.50
2nd
1.25L
7/1
€2.60
3rd
nk
5/1
€2.50
4th
0.5L
10/1
bf
nk
9/2Fav
About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.