Quirk scores with home-bred 25/1 winner

Conditional jockey Adam O'Neill and Carrick-On-Suir based trainer Gerard Quirk were the toast of many a bookmaker at Clonmel today when their 25/1 outsider Sarah Battle relegated heavily supported 6/4 favourite Whiskey And Red under Ruby Walsh, to the runner-up spot in the 'Girls Nite Out May 23rd' Handicap Hurdle.

Whiskey And Red loomed up alongside Sarah Battle entering the home straight and the race appeared to be going to script for favourite backers. However Sarah Battle showed her liking for a fight and eventually held the Walsh ridden 'hot-pot' by a neck.

Quirk is the winning owner, breeder and trainer of Sarah Battle and, if ever proof were needed, he said “I've had her dam, grand-dam and maybe even the great grand-dam! I don't like to think that far back though!

He added “that's a big surprise but I've not been training her the right way! Very light training seems to suit and previously we were working her too strenuously.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee