Mangan's team up with Quarryvale Quarryvale, trained by Jimmy Mangan and ridden by his son Paddy, made all for an easy victory in the opening Tote Placepot Races 1 to 6 Chase at Thurles. The eight-year-old mare had the 13 runner field well strung out approaching the straight with the 15/8 favourite Raptor the only possible danger. The “jolly” stumbled badly on landing two out when about three lengths adrift and Ruby Walsh did really well to keep the partnership intact - but his chance was gone. Paddy Mangan could afford to ease his mount right down on the run-in and the 5/1 chance still had 11 lengths in hand of Raptor at the line. Kakagh (14/1) was a further eight lengths back in third. Jimmy Mangan said, “She’s a good long distance mare and with a bit of luck there’s a big chase in her. I liked the way she finished at Gowran after she was passed. “Heavy ground is the key to her and the shoes will be coming off when the ground gets fast. I had been hoping she would get into the Thyestes but it was lucky she didn’t now.”
