Andy Slattery© Photo Healy Racing
It's a big day for the Andy Slattery team at Limerick today as the yard supplies two promising young jockeys with their first mounts on the racecourse proper.
One of these teenagers is Slattery's son and namesake, Andrew, and he partners Feotanach in the second division of the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Facebook Handicap.
On the pony racing scene young Slattery recently made the headlines when gaining a big success on Mr James in the Invitational Race on the strand at Glenbeigh, County Kerry.
Feotanach has plenty on his plate but it will be interesting to see how his rider fares. It would not come as any surprise if he proves to be well worth his allowance in the weeks and months ahead.
Ben Cohen is a first-cousin to Andrew, and he created much talk with his exploits in the pony racing fields too, including when winning four races at the biggest meeting in that sphere, at Dingle, back in August.
Indeed a film crew from CNN, along with presenter Aly Vance, were in attendance at Geesala races on Doolough Strand in Mayo on August 20.
They were shooting footage for a Winning Post programme which was broadcast in conjunction with Irish Champions Weekend, and Coen came to the fore then by winning the first three races on the card.
His 10Ib claim will be a big help to the Slattery-trained Kendwar in split one of the Follow Limerick Racecourse On Facebook Handicap.
The French-bred caught the eye with his finishing effort over five furlongs at Tipperary last time.
Kendwar's 73 rating equates to 10st 1lb for this initial handicap assignment, so it looks a good call on the part of Slattery to book Coen to offset the sizeable impost.
Elsewhere, championship chasers Colin Keane and Pat Smullen will be the focus of much attention and it will be a surprise if one or both doesn't feature among the winners.
