Sea Scorpion keeps it in the family

Sea Scorpion turned the clock back for connections when landing the Waterford & Tramore Supporters Club Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Liz Doyle recounted afterwards that the five-year-old’s dam Seepeeoh, also owned and bred by the O’Donnell family, won under Sean Flanagan (in a novice chase at Thurles nearly eight years ago).

Sea Scorpion travelled sweetly to challenge at the second last, and the 7/2 favourite was driven out from before the last by Flanagan to beat Supreme Steel by three and three quarter lengths. Let Her Cry was just a neck further back in third.

Doyle said, "Soft ground, near bottom weight, it's not rocket science! I thought he'd have nearly won the last day in Limerick. He hit this little flat spot, and then he'll find off it.

"It was great, it wasn't a strong race, so it was there to run well in with his weight and all the rain. He'll pop out again over Christmas, he is hardy.

"Sean actually won on his mother for me, Seepeeoh, so now he has won on the son, we are all getting old!

"He will get better, he is a three-miler and is only a baby, he is only five. Hopefully he will be better than an 86 horse.

"He might go for a three-mile race at Limerick over Christmas, there is an 0-116 race there and he handles that ground really well. Hopefully he will get in off the low tens (stone) again. That might suit. When the ground is heavy, bottom weights kick in."

(DM & AM)