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Rothwell and McGuinness break new ground with Harry's Dream

Harry's Dream, centre, comes home bestHarry's Dream, centre, comes home best
© Healy Racing Photos

Harry's Dream gave Philip Rothwell and Anna McGuinness a winner at Thurles in Division Two of the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.

The five-year-old gelding travelled into contention approaching two out and a lovely swift jump over the last took him into the lead from Freddie Robdal

McGuinness pushed him out to win by two and a-half lengths at 13/2 from the 11/5 favourite. Third-placed Willywampus was a neck off Freddie Robdal at 7/1.

Rothwell said: "The Donnellys (owners) are amazing girls who rang me up initially to buy a quarter of him, then half an hour later to buy half, but after another half-hour, they bought all of him.

"The family live in my own part of the woods in Wicklow, and it is very much a girl team, so they like to support lady riders. Anna is a great rider and that's her first winner for me.

"He had been placed in bumpers and ran very well in a maiden hurdle, but then disappointed. He ran a good race the last day and I'd say racing down the hill helped today.

"He struggles on good ground because of his conformation, and struggles on heavy due to his wind, so we found his day, thank God.

"He'll stay doing what he's doing now."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.