Paddy Flood - "If anybody knows this young lad you know he's the salt of the earth" Last week at Gowran Park, racing went ahead on heavy winter ground for their Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase meeting, producing a competitive and eventful card. The conditions tested both horses and jockeys, but the racing was thrilling, with Now Is The Hour stealing the spotlight with a dramatic late surge to win the marquee chase. Across hurdles, chases, and bumpers, the tough turf led to varied results, keeping spectators and punters engaged throughout the day. Despite the challenging weather, the meeting ran smoothly, providing memorable moments and high-quality contests on a testing course. Speaking on this week's irishracing.com’s Irish Angle Johnny Ward credits the Gowran team: "I don't think there was an inspection called and Paddy Graffin and Eddie Scally, and all the ground staff, nailed this. "They really nailed it because not only did the ground hold up, I think you’ve got to give the jockeys credit, they rode the conditions." Rejuvenated Cromwell Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a very successful day, highlighted by a dramatic win in the Thyestes with Now Is The Hour, which came home in a thrilling photo-finish under Eoin Staples to take the Grade 3 feature. That victory was part of a treble on the card for his stable, marking a strong return to form after a lean spell without winners and giving Cromwell a welcome boost as his spring campaign builds. Johnny Ward on the Thyestes win: "Robert Tyner, Mark Walsh and JP got done on the line by a rejuvenated Gavin Cromwell. A treble on the day. Great to see and a young man on his back who's one really to watch. "He's come through that Wexford point-to-point school. Not only are they turning out really good horses, they're turning out really good riders too." Sean Cleary-Farrell Sean Cleary-Farrell is a young Irish conditional jockey with strong family roots in horse racing. He rides mainly under a 7lb claim and has been based with champion trainer Willie Mullins, where he’s been making a name for himself with a series of wins in recent seasons, including a string of winners in restricted riders’ meetings. He comes from a racing family in Athlone/Carlow: his late father, jockey Sean Cleary, died from injuries after a fall in a race at Galway shortly before Sean Jr. was born, and his grandfather, Tom Cleary, is a trainer while his uncle Rory Cleary is a successful jockey, so the sport runs deep in his background. Paddy Flood tells us about Cleary-Farrell: "If anybody knows this young lad, you know he's the salt of the earth. He's a hard-working, nice, genuine, down-to-earth young man. He spends a bit of time in France. He hasn't had it easy in life, you know the story about his dad. You might not, but you could have a look at it." In the Thyestes, Sean Cleary-Farrell was riding Spanish Harlem for Willie Mullins and was in front when he was unseated at the final fence. Paddy Flood on the fall: "I think he was just trying to win too much and sometimes that happens if you're playing sport and you're playing to win, sometimes you can overstep the mark and try too hard. "So hopefully he can keep his head up and he's not too disappointed by it, and hopefully the boys in Willie’s look after him a bit." Johnny Ward acknowledged the mentorship of Townend: "Knowing when a young lad is down on his luck and was so gutted about the whole thing, Paul Townend was straight over to make sure that everything was going to be all right and I don't think that should be forgotten.’
