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

Alan Magee

Sonny B dives to the rescue of punters

Thu 27th Mar 2014, 17:59

Sonny B (centre) clears the last from Cuil Rogue (left) and ShuilamachSonny B (centre) clears the last from Cuil Rogue (left) and Shuilamach
© Photo Healy Racing

Sonny B is certainly not the easiest ride in the world but the seven-year-old has an engine, and those who availed of odds of 9/2 this morning were in clover as the gelding ultimately ran out a decisive winner of the Mallow Maiden Hurdle.

However the well-backed 11/4 joint favourite gave Brian O’Connell an anxious moment when asked to quicken approaching the final flight of this 2m4f event.

The John Joe Walsh-trained gelding veered erratically right across his two nearest rivals at that point but soon straightened up and quickened clear on the run-in. Cuil Rogue was over five lengths adrift at the line, with Shuilamach just a head further back in third.

Walsh said, “He can be a bit scatty in his jumping and was a bit green jumping the last. He’s a bit afraid of those hurdles but jumps the Easifix hurdles much better and jumps fences great.

“He can’t go up much for winning this and will go for either a novice or a handicap next. But chasing is his game and he’s already got a good education in point-to-points.

“He’s owned by Anthony Byrne who drove down from Donegal today where he’s a fish merchant.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
11/4JFav
Tote €4.70 €2.10
2nd
5.5L
25/1
€3.80
3rd
hd
9/2
€1.80
4th
6L
11/4JFav
About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.