Courtncatcher and Andrew McNamara jump the last ahead of runner-up Waaheb (right)© Photo Healy Racing
One horse trainer Pat Duffy claimed a notable scalp at Cork today when his Courtncatcher won the Social Package Hurdle, at the expense of a J.P. McManus owned and Dermot Weld trained odds-on favourite.
Ridden to victory in all his five wins by Andrew McNamara, Duffy's homebred son of Catcher In The Rye battled well to lead approaching the final flight where the Weld trained easy to back 5/6 favourite (drifted from 4/7 in the morning) Waaheb under Mark Walsh, was switched wide, in third, with his challenge.
Waaheb's manoeuvre effectively left Courtncatcher with first-run and from the last McNamara kept the gelding going to hold off the late flourish of Waaheb, who failed by a neck to peg back the winner having also erred slightly at the final flight.
Afterwards a delighted Duffy, who trains in “John Treacy country” in Villierstown, Co Waterford, stated “he ran a super race two runs back at Gowran but didn't go at Killarney. He probably prefers galloping tracks and he'll go chasing at some stage. He's my only horse in training!”
