Lizlucky provides owner/breeder with welcome tonic

Lizlucky added to a bumper win at Punchestown last year when staying on strongly through the soft ground at Clonmel to land the Suir Blueway Handicap Hurdle.

The Pat Foley-trained mare challenged between horses when making a mistake at the penultimate flight but was soon in front under Phillip Enright.

The 11/1 chance (available at 16/1 this morning) settled the issue with a fine leap at the last and kept on well on the run-in to score by a length and a half. Tomjackwilliam came home well to take the runner-up spot with 13/8 favourite Gaius finding no extra a further three lengths away in third.

Foley said, "It was her first time running on that type of ground and she hasn't been the most straightforward to train and with her age, hasn't ran many times. The girls at home have done a great job with her and have kept her muscles right.

"Phillip said she ran the whole way to the line and we'll keep her in for the winter, but won't run on really heavy ground.

"I'd like to run her in a nice mares' handicap from a light weight and we'll keep her to hurdles this season. A race like the mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival is a possibility.

"I'm delighted for Leo (McCormack) and you could not get a better owner in the yard. He hasn't been feeling well lately and barely got here today so that'll make him up. I couldn't be happier for him."

Quotes by Tom Weekes