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John O'Riordan

John O'Riordan

Shoot The Blues impresses with debut success

Sun 23rd Oct 2022, 17:43

Shoot The Blues and John Gleeson won impressively at LimerickShoot The Blues and John Gleeson won impressively at Limerick
© Photo Healy Racing

Shoot The Blues looked a potentially exciting sort when coming from last to first to win the Limerick Post Newspaper INH Flat Race at Limerick.

Trained by Barry Connell, the five-year-old Blue Bresil gelding collared favourite Polly's Fortune inside the final furlong and kept on well as the latter battled back close home.

A half-brother to a dual hurdles winner, Shoot The Blues showed a really nice turn of foot to quicken clear before running green.

He is entitled to come on plenty for this initial experience and could be a horse with a bright future.

Winning trainer Barry Connell said; "that was a pleasant surprise. He was fit enough to finish in the first three but has never been away anywhere and we haven't done a bit of work yet. He has done a couple of half-speeds but is a quality horse and is by a very good sire in Blue Bresil.

"He was ready for a run today and I said to John (Gleeson) to drop him out and let him pass horses. The way he hit the line you'd say he will end up being a staying horse.

"We bought him out of the Landrover sale as a three year old, he is five now and we gave him two years as he is a big horse and we gave him time to grow into himself.

"I'm not a huge fan of winners' bumpers are they are hard on horses but I'm not sure what to do with this lad as I think he'll improve. I'm don't know what quality the race was but it was a good performance and the first two pulled well clear."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.