18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Joseph O'Brien doubles up with Coward

Sun 21st Apr 2024, 15:02

Cowardofthecounty and Dylan Browne McMonagleCowardofthecounty and Dylan Browne McMonagle
© Photo Healy Racing

Cowardofthecounty completed a quick double for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle at the Curragh this afternoon when making a winning debut in the Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden.

The Ballydoyle colt Whistlejacket went off an even-money shot in the six-furlong contest and looked to have his rivals in trouble as he made the running and travelled best passing the two pole.

Cowardofthecounty showed a nice attitude however as he stayed on to press the front-running favourite at the furlong pole.

The Kodi Bear colt got on top in the last 100 yards to record a convincing two-and-a-half length win in the colours of E S Racing.

Cowardofthecounty had cost 100,000gns as a yearling. He is a half-brother to two winners and from the family of Footstepsinthesand.

O’Brien said:- “This fella looked like he could be a bit special at home but you’re never really sure with a two-year-old until they go to the races.

“He’s a particularly laidback horse and couldn’t have been more impressive. He’s a big horse, well over 500 kilos which for a two-year-old at this stage is a lot.

“He could go straight for the Coventry now. He’s such a big horse I don’t know does he need to run again but we’ll have to see.

“We knew when the horse ran well in the first that there was a good chance this lad would run well too.

“A lot of people pitch in two-year-olds with an older horse to give them a guide, but we don’t and keep the two-year-olds together.

“They are the first two colts that we have ran and it looks like we have a couple of nice ones!

“They have both been away once and today is just the second time they have been on grass. We don’t drill our two-year-olds and like them to progress. It bodes well on what they have done today.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

1st
17/2
Tote €10.60 €2.50
2nd
2.5L
1/1Fav
€1.10
3rd
6.5L
4/1
€1.80
4th
1.5L
22/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.