Must Be Dreaming© Photo Healy Racing
Seven-year-old mare Must Be Dreaming landed a gamble (morning 25/1, returned 13/2) in first-time cheekpieces at Tramore today, winning the opening Tote.ie Handicap Chase for trainer Garrett Ahern and jockey John Shinnick.
Previously successful in a 2022 Wexford handicap hurdle, Must Be Dreaming had been beaten long distances on two previous runs and today was produced from off the pace to lead after the second-last, beating runner-up Prince Of Air by 4.5 lengths.
County Cork based Ahern reported "she has loads of ability but just decides when and when not to do it. I haven't spoken to Ger (Gubbins, owner) yet but after this, I think we will just run her in better company, with smaller fields from now on.
"Off her work at home you'd be saying she should be rated 120 something, but then she'd come racing and wouldn't want to know. When she won in Wexford we thought we have a good one and then she finished fourth in a Listed race at Galway, but it was only backwards and backwards she went."
Jockeys are wearing black armbands during today's card in memory of Willie Hanlon, deceased father of John 'Shark' Hanlon.
Quotes from Donal Murphy