FARMIX PLOUGHS ON TO VICTORY
FARMIX made it third time lucky over hurdles with a dominant display in the opening race at Clonmel yesterday, the last meeting to be held before all racing ceased due to the coronavirus crisis. Fourth on his racecourse debut in a Punchestown bumper last December, Liz Doyle’s charge had since filled the runner-up spot twice in succession at Clonmel since the turn of the year. Ridden by Donagh Meyler, the five-year-old was the 6-4 favourite for the Money Back On The Boyle Sports App Maiden Hurdle and led his rivals a merry dance from the front before pulling clear from the final obstacle to score by 20 lengths. Doyle was not present, but said from home: ‘He did it well and I’d say the slightly better ground has brought about a good bit of improvement. ‘The twice he ran there before the ground was very deep and while he coped with it, I think the dryer ground has helped him excel. ‘He’s a huge horse at over 17 hands and whatever he does over hurdles, I think he’ll be a 20lb better horse over fences. We’ll keep going with him for the time being before hopefully going chasing with him next season.’ The father-son combination of Philip and Luke Dempsey landed the Play Lotto On The Boyle Sports App Maiden Hurdle with 7-1 shot Cosa
Ben. A faller two flights from home when still in contention at Gowran Park earlier in the month, the French-bred mare bounced back with a 17length verdict over Daring Disciple. ‘I don’t know how unlucky she was in Gowran, but she was going to run a big race,’ said trainer Philip Dempsey. Danny Mullins was seen to good effect aboard the front-running Shantou Sisu in the Extra Places On The Boyle Sports App Handicap Hurdle. Billy Lanigan’s 9-4 favourite steadily raised the tempo and ultimately won with plenty in hand, by six lengths. Lanigan said: ‘He’s been running consistently well and his owner Hugh Laing has been a friend of mine for 45 years or more, so it’s nice to win.’