Cailean's Angel (left) with Capture The Action (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Grand National winner Jimmy Mangan dutifully played his part in the success of neighbouring trainer Eamonn Gallagher's Cailean's Angel in the opening division of the Mallow (Mares) Handicap Hurdle at Cork today, as the trainers led home a local Conna 1-2.
Trainers Mangan and Gallagher are near neighbours in Conna, Co Cork and both men had runners in the race, with Gallagher's winner Cailean's Angel eventually beating Mangan's runner-up Capture The Action by a length and three parts.
Following the race, winner Gallagher was thankful to his more decorated neighbour and mischievously quipped “I have the bragging rights in Conna and I actually worked her in Jimmy's (Mangan) the other day, so I'll have to thank Jimmy!”
He also added “she was just beaten in this race last year and she was late coming in due to Covid and the plan was to go over fences but she was very disappointing.
“I was hoping the owner (Vincent Sheehan, from Ballyduff) would be back for this but the race has worked out. She is a small filly and I wanted to take 7lbs (winning jockey Eoin Walsh's claim) off her.
“She led everywhere until being pipped at the line in this race last year and she is in at Wexford again on Wednesday.
“I needed that as my horse in the earlier race (Thunder Mike) severed a tendon and was killed. I'm a little downbeat but that was nice to get.”
