Bertolini ties McCann's 1st to Brady's last win

The late Oliver Brady was remembered at Punchestown today as his replacement as trainer in Co Monaghan Anthony McCann registered his own first winner, appropriately with Brady's last horse to win, Shabra's Bertolini in the Follow Punchestown On Facebook & Twitter Novice Handicap Hurdle today.

Shabra's Bertolini only previous win was gained in a dead-heat at Downpatick on June 15, three months to the day before larger-than-life and much missed Brady passed away.

Following today's poignant win, McCann said “it's great that he was Oliver's last winner and my first. It's good for Rita Shah (owner), especially given the support she gives the yard and it's down to the whole team, not just me, including the young lad who led him up.

“We have 23 horses but plenty of room for more! Hopefully we can keep improving. We have a couple of nice horses for the winter like One Cool Shabra and a nice horse that Rita bought out of John Oxx's called Wrap Star.”

Regarding Shabra's Bertolini's win, he added “he did it very well and Johnny (Moore, winning jockey) gave him a super ride and did exactly what he was told and kept it simple. Johnny is also part of the team now.

“I didn't think he (Shabra's Bertolini) was fit enough as he had a break after the dead-heat in the north and his two runs after that were poor. We always thought he wanted good ground!”

Jockey Jonathan Moore, from Adamstown, Co Wexford, was himself recording just his second winner having gained his first at Cork last July.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson