Bargain buy Billie wins again

Cheap purchase Chillie Billie gained a third career win at Naas today, winning the OnePlace IT Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap for trainer John Larkin and jockey Ross Coakley.

Larkin purchased the son of Piccolo for just 2,700gns as an eight-race maiden in February 2012 and while his strike rate remains low, was today clocking up E49,000 in total career prize-money.

Following the win Larkin, whose House Limit was touched off in the earlier handicap, stated "Ross (Coakley) is a good kid, and Warren O'Connor (jockey coach) should get some of the credit as he told him how to ride him.

"He's (Chillie Billie) a hardy auld devil, just like House Limit and it would be great to have a few more like them.

"He runs nearly every week and will be out again soon. The owner Breen White is a farmer from Castleblayney."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee