Olivia Marnane wins Smullen Cancer Trials charity race Olivia Marnane was a fitting winner of the Curragh’s Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race today, steering the Jessica Harrington-trained Mo Ghille Mar to score in some style. Supported by Ballylinch Stud, the race has broken through €1 million in fundraising for the charity this year, with today’s renewal featuring former jockeys Will Kennedy, Davy Condon and Pat Shanahan among 21 riders. Kennedy’s mount Mordor, the 6/4 favourite and eventual runner-up, was headed two furlongs out by strong-travelling Mo Ghille Mar (11/4), whose rider Marnane pushed him clear and later scored eased-down by 4.5 lengths. Irish Derby-winner Shanahan rolled back the years in figuratively securing black-type on Ballylinch’s Sacred Oath, while Condon - whose last ride came in the 2015 Grand National, finished sixth on Redwood Queen. Winner Marnane was riding in today’s race in memory of her mother Teresa Marnane, who passed away from cancer in December 2023, and sported the Marnane-family colours on the Bronsan Racing-owned filly. The rider reported “it’s been an amazing day overall and so many people have shown up. The whole day is a credit to the Smullen family and they are an inspiration to every single person here. "I’ve been with the Harrington team for five years and they have been like a rock to me. Also, the Sands family (Bronsan Racing) allowed me to ride in my mum’s colours, which is a little girl’s dream come true and is amazing. The donations have flown in and it is a privilege to ride in this race. “Mo Ghille Mar absolutely flew home and I’ll do it again!” “This is as much dad’s win as mine.”
