O'Leary & Flanagan team up again with Empire Succes Youghal trainer Ger O’Leary and Sean Flanagan continued a one hundred percent winning association as Empire Succes took the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle at Cork. The 15/8 chance, who made all in a maiden hurdle at Wexford last autumn only to be disqualified due to a banned substance, again set the pace and just held off the fast finishing Reiki Revolution. Flanagan’s mount looked set for a decisive victory on the run-in but ultimately held on by a diminishing half a length with Itsallinthegenes three and a half lengths back in third. O’Leary said, “That’s the way he’s been ridden all the time, good and positive. I thought it was a good opportunity today and just glad he took it. “I train just outside Youghal in a village called Ladysbridge and have five riding out. “I was knocked out for a month and want to thank Patsy Leahy who gave me a massive help. I fractured my scull and eye socket after getting a kick. “I took out my licence 12 months ago and Sean also rode my only previous winner. He’s had two rides for me and they have both won. “Darragh (O’Keeffe) has ben giving this fella great rides all along, but he had to go to Kilbeggan. “We might aim him at the three-miler in Galway.”
