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

Gary Carson

Years all out to justify support

Tue 14th Jul 2015, 16:38

Twenty Four Years leads Idee Emery over the last Twenty Four Years leads Idee Emery over the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Twenty Four Years was made to work hard to lands the odds in the mares maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.

Tony Martin's charge was a well backed 8/13 shot having been as big as 11/10 this morning. Paul Townend's mount won the early battle for the lead and looked in control going to the second last.

A slight error there put her under pressure however and she had to dig deep when Idee Emery threw down a challenge at the last.

The Definite Article mare was all out in the closing stages of the run-in to hold on for a half length success.

The winner had chased home easy scorer For Gortnatona at Wexford 11 days ago. Martin said afterwards:-

"She was idling a bit but it worked out well. We had the choice of going to Killarney but we came here because her owner Tommy Steele is a local man (from Lisburn). His brother is Robert Steele who rode as an amateur. I rode with him.

"She's a well-bred mare. She's a half-sister to Living Next Door and she'll be worth a bit for the paddocks now. She'll go to stud but we might go for a novice chase first."

(Additional reporting by Michael Graham)

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.