Coolnagorna Giggs and Noel Fehily leads from Flynsini© Photo Healy Racing
Recently turned 40 Noel Fehily justifiably has many fans, and his success on Tom Hogan's Coolnagorna Giggs (5/1 2nd fav) was a popular one, coming as it did thirty five minutes on from the Corkman's unseat from odds-on Bitofapuzzle in the Grade 2. Coolnagorna Giggs proved best in the sixth contest, the Thurles Handicap Chase.
Hogan and Fehily teamed up for a big win with Silver Jaro in the County Hurdle in 2008, and here eleven-year-old Coolnagorna Giggs gained his third racecourse win.
A point-to-point scorer earlier in his career, Coolnagorna Giggs showed his undoubted stamina from the back of the last to see off Flynsini by two and three parts of a length.
"He was unlucky to meet a Grade 2 winner (earlier victor Aunt Nora here the last day and also the third horse (Witness Of Fashion) won twice since," commented Hogan.
"There's a race for him at Navan next Saturday but it might come too soon. I'm delighted for his owner, Paddy McLoughney, who is my longest standing owner and gave me my first winner, with Agent Scully at Sligo in 1998."
On stable star Gordon Lord Byron, Hogan said: "He's in good form and started back cantering on Monday. He's full of beans and is good and fresh. There's a race for him at Dundalk in mid-March and we'll see after that but he has plenty options."
P.T. Enright, rider of Tooreen trained by Robert Tyner, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the fifth last.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Winter Magic trained by James Joseph Mangan, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(TW & EM)
