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O'Connor has another fan in Deegan

Mon 14th Mar 2016, 18:08

Papa's Way and Derek O'Connor had Paul Deegan smiling at CorkPapa's Way and Derek O'Connor had Paul Deegan smiling at Cork
© Photo Healy Racing

Flat trainer Paul Deegan sent out his second winner over jumps when Papa's Way (4/1) got a deserved turn under Derek O'Connor in the Money Back On Fallers At Coral.ie (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.

A course winner here at Cork on the level, the victorious Rakti gelding did everything right on the front end under O'Connor, but well-backed joint favourite Stolberg looked dangerous up the straight.

Try as the Limerick winner from Saturday might, he just couldn't get to Papa's Way, who had two and a quarter lengths in hand at the line.

Another well-supported market-leader, Fiddlers Bow was eight and a half lengths back in third.

"He met one the last day (Luckyinmilan). The man on board today was brilliant - class, different strawberries!" enthused Deegan.

"He (Derek O'Connor) said he loved it out in front and has a relaxed, lazy way of racing. I thought he'd be better over hurdles but he seems to be finding his level now.

"He'll come back here for the mile and a quarter Flat handicap he won last year, next."

(TW & EM)