Alan Magee
Notable hat-trick for He'llberemembered
Paul Fahey celebrates a third successive win in the race for He'llberemembered
© Photo Healy Racing
He'llberemembered landed the Premier County Hurdle at Thurles for the third successive year as the veteran gelding stayed on best in the straight under Paddy Kennedy.
The versatile 12-year-old has proved a tremendous servant to trainer Paul Fahey and was recording his twelfth career win in this 2m6f event.
The 11/10 favourite Daneking spoiled his chance by continually jumping out to the left, although the winner also followed him on a number of occasions.
Kennedy's mount led early in the straight, and the 5/1 chance kept on well on the run-in to beat the favourite by two and a half lengths. Ted Veale was unable to go with the first two in the straight, and kept on one paced to finish another two and three quarter lengths back in third.
Fahey said, "What do you say about him? All the papers indicated that he'd finish third but we never taught him to read thank god!
"He has the same attitude riding him out at home in the morning and it hasn't changed for four or five years. Whenever he tells us otherwise we'll retire him but for the moment we're gearing towards a flat handicap at Dundalk next.
"He could sneak into those veterans' chases and he's so relaxed that he could also travel (to Britain).
"I'd a bit of heart trouble earlier in the year but if he ever wants to give his up, I'd take it!"
(TW & AM)