Lady Writer scores for trainer/jockey

Trainer/jockey Denis Hogan was on the mark with Lady Writer at Leopardstown today as the mare followed up a recent win at Punchestown in today's TRI Equestrian Handicap Hurdle.

The daughter of Urban Poet gained her first success in a Punchestown three-miles handicap hurdle on February 10 and today followed up when holding the late finish of Cher Why Not by a neck.

Cher Why Not was an unlucky loser having been hampered by the exit of Citizen Al at the third last flight, where the eventual runner-up jumped Citizen Al's jockey Michael O'Sullivan while on the ground. Cher Why Not did finish strongly in the home straight but failed narrowly to catch the winner.

Winning trainer/jockey Hogan later commented “she's a filly that's thriving, she's going the right way.

“She's a chaser for next season and God knows where she'll end up, she's progressing over hurdles.

“Originally when she was rated 99 I was giving out but the handicapper is right again. Originally I thought he was hard on her as she hadn't done a lot to get 99 the first day.

“It's hard starting handicaps off 99 and winning off 108 around here is hard.

“She wasn't running on Saturday morning and then I declared her anyway and said to the lads we'd have a look.

“Luckily enough it rained all day yesterday and she got her going. She could have another outing this season.

“I had a super run around. I got up through the middle of them, I hadn't much company going to the last and I had to be hard on her. She was a bit idle going to the last and laying on to the rail.

“I had a super run around, the loose horse kept me tight to the rail but I couldn't complain.”

Quotes from Gary Carson