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Mo Ghille Mar makes all under Sexton

Mo Ghille Mar (green and white)Mo Ghille Mar (green and white)
© Healy Racing Photos

Due to low-lying sun, only five flights were jumped in the Down Royal's Golden Cow Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong and Harry Sexton put the pace of four-time Flat winner Mo Ghille Mar  to good use to make all the running.

The 7/1 chance, trained by 'Shark Hanlon' for Bronsan Racing, kept on well in the straight to fend off Whispering Willow by three lengths.

"She jumped fairly well everywhere, and I was able to go a good gallop and keep them all honest," reported Sexton. 

"When she winged the last (normal three out), and the last two were out, I was still going fairly well. I knew she has plenty of Flat ability and kept the squeeze on, and she was tough away to the line.

"A horse that I could have ridden in Wexford won, and I came here to ride because I thought she would take the world of beating after her run in Galway and, thankfully, she proved me right. She made the drive a lot easier.

"She ran well the last day off the back of running two days before, so she's a filly that is very tough and takes her racing well. 'Shark' does a great job with her, she was in serious order today.

"She is a lovely mare, she can be a little bit tricky in her own right, but a lot of good mares can be. We won't hold that against her. She has won a couple over hurdles and has done a few jobs on the Flat. I certainly enjoy riding her and am grateful to the owners and trainer for the opportunity."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham 

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.