Keep Up justifies short odds to give Cleary-Farrell double Sean Cleary-Farrell completed the first double of his career when partnering odd-on favourite Keep Up to win the Lily & Wild Mares Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. Having been successful aboard Spanish Harlem earlier on the card, the young Westmeath man again teamed up with boss Willie Mullins to bring up the brace. Tracking leader Regards To Rose from the outset, Cleary-Farrell sent Keep Up to the front after jumping the third last. Well in command approaching the last, a mistake at that final flight briefly halted her momentum. However, her rider soon had matters in hand, pushing the 4/5f out to beat the staying on Fillusin by five lengths. David Casey said: “She was a little bit in his hands, but they were going a good enough gallop. She jumped well and was probably fresh after her break, but he gave her a good ride. “She won her bumper well first time in Roscommon and she then ran well in a Listed bumper in Gowran that has worked out well. “She can go for a novice, and we could have a look at Galway. Hopefully she’ll improve a bit from it. “Sean is in Willie’s full-time and is a good rider and works hard. “These days are for lads like him. He’s getting his chance and he’s taking it with both hands.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
