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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Aodhan May wins again for Byrnes team

Thu 11th Apr 2024, 17:26

Philip Byrnes with his parents Charles and Cora Philip Byrnes with his parents Charles and Cora
© Photo Healy Racing

In-form mare Aodhan May showed that she hasn't reached the peak of her achievements yet as she stayed on strongly to win the Ishka Handicap Hurdle at Limerick.

This daughter of Vinnie Roe is now four from her last five races over flights.

She showed good resolution today to go after Cosmo Renfro who was trying to keep her at bay on the run-in. Aodhan May stuck to her guns, though, and used almost every yard of the 2m5f trip to collar Cosmo Renfro close home.

The winner prevailed at 15/2 having drifted from a morning price of 7/2. The runner-up went off at 10/3 and was six lengths in front of Duffys Getaway (18/1).

Charles Byrnes said: "She wins again! Only for it keeping raining she wouldn't have won and obviously the jump at the last helped.

"There needs to be 'heavy' in the going description for her and Philip (Byrnes, jockey) said after riding in the first race that it wasn't soft enough - but then it started raining again.

"We ran her in the summer initially and got handicapped on the wrong ground, but paid the price as she broke down. This is grand though and we'll keep her chase mark until next season."

Aodhan May's winning spree comprises this €15,000 contest in addition to a pair of handicap hurdles in Navan and one at Punchestown.

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.