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John O'Riordan

John O'Riordan

Happy Wife, happy life for Cromwell in Punchestown bumper

Sun 26th Nov 2023, 16:04

The Passing Wife and Declan Lavery win the Irish Daily Mirror Flat Race Healy Racing The Passing Wife and Declan Lavery win the Irish Daily Mirror Flat Race Healy Racing
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Gavin Cromwell added to a success at Cork earlier in the afternoon when The Passing Wife landed the concluding Irish Daily Mirror(Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Punchestown.

A point-to-point winner at Ballynoe in March, the four-year-old gelding had shown definite signs of ability when fourth in a maiden hurdle at Cork on his rules debut last month.

Pressing leader and 5-6f Prends Garde A Toi over two furlongs out, the Declan Lavery partnered gelding soon led before keeping on strongly inside the final furlong to hold the renewed effort of the latter by half-a-length.

Gavin Cromwell said: “He’s a horse that never really showed us a whole pile at home. We ran him in a maiden hurdle in Cork and he ran a lovely race so I said we’d give him a go in a bumper.

“I thought he’d run a nice race today and be placed so I’m delighted with that.

“Decie probably got there a tad too soon but he put his head down and wanted to win in fairness to him.

“He’s not an over big horse and as I said hasn’t shown too much at home but once they show it on the track that’s what you want.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.