Duggan ends long wait for first win

James Duggan finally 'caught the lollipop' today in steering his first winner on veteran Glenabo Bridge (17/2) in Fairyhouse's Baroneracing.com Winter Festival Handicap Hurdle, for his employer trainer Oliver McKiernan.

Successful once previously in an October 2019 point-to-point, 21-year-old Duggan lost on 62 initial rides as a professional jockey but today, on 12-year-old Glenabo Bridge, passed the line with a fist-pump and a half-length margin from runner-up Quornofamonday

Delighted Duggan reported “I rode my first point-to-point winner when I was 17 and I've been chasing the lollipop ever since! It's tough going but I'm delighted with that as it's my first (racecourse) winner.

“Mr McKiernan was thinking about retiring him but I told him not to, to keep him going and I would get one more on him. Thankfully it paid off.

“I'm based with Oliver full-time and I tip away with a few other trainers. I'm flat out.”

He added “he's a gamey old horse and you just have to keep going through the gears with him. He's not a horse with an awful lot of pace but when he gets his head in front he just battles. There was a bit of trouble coming to the second last and he was game. I gave him a couple of flicks and he picked up for me in the end.

“I thought I was collared - it happened me when I finished second on him in the past so I'm delighted it's come through."

Quotes from Gary Carson