The Jam Man and Paul Townend jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Owner/trainer Ronan McNally gained his first big-race success at Navan today as The Jam Man landed a sizeable gamble to easily win the Ladbrokes Troytown under Champion Jockey Paul Townend.
The Jam Man opened a 6/1 chance for the 22 runner race on Friday, was a 4/1 chance this morning and was returned the strong 5/2 favourite for the €125,000 contest.
In the race jockey Townend held The Jam Man up towards the rear, on the inside. The pair made progress 'undertaking' rivals throughout the final mile, jumped to the front two out and stayed on stoutly for an 18 lengths win over Roaring Bull
Co Armagh based, small-time trainer McNally runs his Krafty Kitchens business and came to prominence recently with consecutive-winners Da Baba Elephant (won two consecutively in 2017, three in 2018), The Trigger (five) and most recently the exciting Dreal Deal (five).
The Jam Man was himself today recording consecutive wins, having rattled off the obligatory four-timer in 2019, and following the race McNally reported “I'm emotional! He's only a pony and going around the paddock against those big horses he was dwarfed.
“I walked the track early, I went down to the last and then to the open ditch and thought 'am I wise doing what I'm doing'.”
He added “Paul (Townend) was majestic on him, I told him to ride him with confidence and if he could get to the third last without any real drama, he'd have a great chance because he does all his best work in the home-straight.
“He was rated on his chase wins, which was good, but they were in poor races. I wanted to save his mark for a big pot and it's a pity for 'Tubs' (son Kian McNally) who is at home.
“It would have been unbelievable if he was here as he does a lot of work with him at home. It's a pity he's not able to share it with us.
“Usually I wouldn't get emotional but straight after he passed the line I didn't know what to do!
“I'd like to dedicate the win to Johnny O'Connor. He owned the horse before he was tragically killed in a car crash.
“We call the horse JJ at home in memory of him and I like to think he's looking down and helping us.
“Ciaran Fennessy also deserves a lot of credit for buying him and producing him as a young horse.”
Regarding plans, he said “I could see him going back for a Grade 1 hurdle in England now. There is one at Haydock and one at Ascot. We've unfinished business from last year as that wasn't his run in the Stayers Hurdle. He had aspergillus when he ran in that and I'd love to go back and have another crack.
“I'm not saying he's good enough for a Grade 1 but I'd love to go back and give him a chance when he's healthy and see how he goes. I don't think he's scopey enough to be a Grade 1 horse over fences.
“We've had a great run of it but we put a lot of work into it and a lot of money into it and I think we deserve the success we get.
“All our horses were sick last year and every horse we are running now, basically, is running well. Long may it continue.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
