On The Go Again aimed at Galway Hurdle

MICHAEL MULVANY is eyeing a potential tilt at the Galway Hurdle for stable star On The Go Again (4/1) after providing him with the first Listed success of his training career at Leopardstown yesterday.

The Irish Lincolnshire winner showed a blistering turn of pace under Gary Carroll to swat aside smart rivals in Onenightidreamed and Brendan Brackan in the featured Heritage Stakes much to the delight of the Kells trainer.

“He’s after having a hard start to the season so he’ll go on his holidays now and hopefully come back for the Galway Hurdle.

“That’s the big plan and he might have a prep run somewhere,” Mulvany said. “We like winning at Bellewstown so maybe we could go there.

“That’s my first Listed winner but I’ve never had a horse like that before. Tough As Nails was a great horse but this horse is so versatile, tough and honest, and he always gives his all.”

Another horse set for bigger and better things is Dermot Weld’s Jaega (3/1 favourite) – 8/1 in the morning – which recorded a commanding debut victory in the fillies maiden for Leigh Roche.

“We’ve always liked her a lot. She was very immature last year so I took my time with her,” Weld said.

“We’ll go for a Stakes race with her next. She stays well, has a lot of class and could be a nice filly going a mile and a half.”

The master of Rosewell House made it a double when another newcomer Khalaab (9/2) showed guts in abundance to take the 9f maiden after a ding-dong battle with Aidan O’Brien’s Sir Erec.

Elsewhere, it was a special day for the Townend family from Cork at Tramore yesterday as Jody Townend secured her first success ‘under rules’ aboard Port Rashid (11/4) for her father Tim in the 5 Lamps Maiden Hurdle.

Jody, sister of former champion jockey Paul, also had the pleasure of beating her sibling who finished unplaced on 9/4 favourite Winter Soldier.

“At least I beat Paul. It’s brilliant to get it, and to ride it for Dad especially,” Jody said.

“I’ve had three wins this season in the point-to-points, thank God because I only had one before that. I’m 20 and I’m at home all the time with Dad.

“I ride out in Willie Mullins’ on a Tuesday, it’s good to be riding the good horses there. I ride one at Fairyhouse for John Joe Walsh (Positive Approach), hopefully he’ll run well.”