Mooneys gain compensation with Wooly win

Trainer Paddy Mooney and his jockey son Martin Mooney combined to win the Start New Year @ Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse today with Wooly Tom providing the pair with a measure of compensation for losing their grand veteran Good Fella in the previous race.

Thirteen year old Good Fella, a winner of five races, had finished seventh in the previous handicap hurdle but dropped dead of a suspected heart attack following the race. Following Wooly Tom's win, Mooney senior stated “he ran his heart out and was a great old servant but at least this will soften the blow a bit.

“He (Wooly Tom) did well to keep going on that ground; I put cheek-pieces on him but was doubting myself this morning, as I thought he'd run too free on the ground. The fact he wasn't carrying a lot of weight was a help too.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson