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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Zeeband provides boost for Carty clan

Sun 24th Mar 2024, 15:56

Zeeband and Jack GilliganZeeband and Jack Gilligan
© Photo Healy Racing

Zeeband (100/30f) provided successful owner Paul Carty and his family with a boost today as the Paul Gilligan-trained grey gelding landed Limerick's Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by the trainer's son Jack Gilligan, Zeeband pressed Champagne Mahler for the lead and having gone clear of his rivals entering the home straight, finished well in testing conditions to score by 5.5 lengths from Grace Faraday

Afterwards trainer Gilligan reported “he'll be a grand horse for the summer, he will jump a fence at some time but today is a lovely day to win because Paul Carty - who owns half of the horse with Natalie (Gilligan), his mother is quite ill in hospital.

“It is a great boost for them and hopefully she will get a kick out of it as well.”

He added “Jack gave him a lovely ride as we planned to poke Henry's horse (front-running Champagne Mahler) along and I did think we'd reverse Gowran form with him. He is only getting the hang of things over hurdles now and hopefully will stay progressing.”

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.