Shanroe strikes as Colgan lands brace

The Karl Thornton-trained Shanroe got up late on to land the spoils after a thrilling four-way finish to the concluding Patrickswell Maiden at Limerick this evening. Rasiym came to lead a furlong-and-a-half out in the mile-and-a-half contest but was strongly pressed in the closing stages.

He was tackled by Rayounpour Thosedaysaregone and then Shanroe on the outer with the later prevailing by head at the line for Robbie Colgan.

Rayounpour eventually finished three-parts-of-a-length back third with Thosedaysaregone a further half length behind in fourth.

11/1 winner Shanroe, a three time bumper winner, was making his first start under Flat rules.

"He is a very smart horse, always was. He won three bumpers and there were plenty of horses behind him in his bumpers,” said Thornton.

"I'd have been very disappointed if he was beaten tonight and I'd say he'll mix it between flat and hurdles now.

“He'd go 2m4f over hurdles but he just wasn't himself over hurdles last winter, he had a bad fall and it half knocked him.

"He could be a proper horse on the flat."

It was a double on the day for Robbie Colgan, who had earlier partnered Half Nutz to success.

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)