Limerick's Gillian Scott trains her stable veteran to a first win in over five years

A super result for Ballingarry trainer Gillian Scott arrived in the nine-furlong handicap at Gowran last Thursday when she saddled the first two home with her veteran Starting Monday snapping a lengthy losing streak.

It has been over five years since Starting Monday had got his head in front so credit to connections for their perseverance.

Those who kept the faith were rewarded with odds of 16-1 as he led inside the final furlong for Donagh O’Connor and won by over a length from stable companion Khormor Syd (7-1). The stable forecast paid over 130-1.

The records will show that 9-4 joint favourite Ifallgoeswell won the opener at Wexford on an inclement Friday evening in Wexford, but the talk post-race was about how Jack Kennedy managed to finish third on his mount.

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Ballingarry-based father and son team Philip and Charles Byrnes were responsible for the winner who lasted home by a neck.

However, there was real drama at the point of the home turn as Kennedy’s left foot came out of his iron, forcing all his weight over the near side of Dunleer Crystal. How he defied gravity to get back in the saddle is anyone's guess. Remarkable recovery.

The pair jumped the final two hurdles with Kennedy’s feet out of the irons and were only beaten four lengths.  

“I was lucky I suppose. I am not sure what happened,” Kennedy later said on Racing TV. “My foot just came out of the iron. It probably shouldn’t have happened.”

Skydance (7-2) shed her maiden tag in the fillies’ maiden over a mile which opened proceedings at Leopardstown on Sunday.

It was a close-run thing, too, as she had just a short head to spare over the 5-4 favourite Thundering On, trained by Joseph O’Brien.

Skydance is trained on the Curragh by Willie McCreery for Abu Dhabi interests Al Shira’aa Racing. She cost a million euro as a yearling in Deauville so expectations are entitled to be high.

Last year she ran well in some of the best races open to her without winning and she has an entry in the Irish 1,000 Guineas towards the end of next month.  

“She is a nice filly. She has a bit of class. With the way she hit the line, I thought she should be going up in trip rather than down,” winning jockey Billy Lee said.

English jockey Harry Cobden got more of a flavour of his new role as retained rider to the mighty JP McManus team when partnering Fierce Handay to success in the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle over 2m5f. 

Trainer Noel Meade is enjoying a purple patch of form after a double on Good Friday at the Curragh, this was his second winner of the Easter Festival at Fairyhouse. It might have been more if Blake had not crashed out at the final flight of the Grade 2 hurdle at the track on Easter Sunday.

Fierce Handay won this with a bit to spare. Despite taking a grip in the early stages, he still won by over five lengths at 11-2 favourite.

“He travelled well and he’s a proper horse. He over-raced a bit with me out there but hopefully he can learn to settle a bit better. He will make into a lovely chaser” Cobden said.

I Am Maximus became the first horse since the immortal Red Rum in the 1970s to regain a Randox Grand National after a stirring victory in the world-famous race on Saturday.

A sense of history surrounded the result after the very heavily-punted 9-2 favourite swooped late under Paul Townend to win by two and a half lengths from 18-1 chance Iroko.

The first two home were clad in the green and gold silks of JP McManus. The leviathan owner became the first to win the race on four occasions.

Trainer Willie Mullins was winning the race for the third time in a row after I Am Maximus’ first success in 2024 and Nick Rockett last year. This feat echoed that of Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s. Mullins also won the race in 2005 with Hedgehunter and joined Red Rum’s trainer Ginger McCain on four wins in the race.

Jordans, a 28-1 outsider prepared by Joseph O’Brien, briefly looked like he would slip the field between the final two fences but he tired late into third place.

For much of the contest, I Am Maximus did not appear to be travelling overly well, with one or two scruffy jumps not helping. Paul Townend had him on the inside, but he was never better than midfield, even as the field swung into the home straight. Two fences from home he was still 10 lengths off the pace. But experience and class – from horse and jockey – count for a lot at this track.

Despite the welter burden of 11-12, I Am Maximus was only getting going and he found the lead inside the final furlong. Perhaps it was inevitable. Mullins and Townend swept the board at Cheltenham last month and now plundered the famous race of them all.

“I had my eye on I Am Maximus all through the race. I thought Paul gave him an outstanding ride,” McManus said on Racing TV.

“His jumping was a bit sticky but Paul trusted the horse and waited for the horse to come to him. When the horse was ready, he delivered.”

On the subject of I Am Maximus skipping the Gold Cup at Cheltenham to go into the National a fresh horse, the owner added: “He [Mullins] didn’t take much persuading, in fairness. It worked out great for Willie, he won both!”

A year hence, I Am Maximus may or may not return in a bid to emulate the most famous horse to grace the race. It shouldn’t really matter either way. Only seven horses have won the race more than once since its first running in 1839. He is now in that elite bracket. 

Upcoming Fixtures

Clonmel                                           Tuesday, April 14 (first race 4.37pm)

Leopardstown                              Wednesday, April 15 (first race 1.22pm)

Limerick                                          Thursday, April 16 (first race 1.35pm)

Ballinrobe                                       Friday, April 17 (first race 5.00pm)

Bellewstown                                 Saturday, April 18 (first race 2.05pm)

Curragh                                            Sunday, April 19 (first race 1.15pm)

Tramore                                           Sunday, April 19 (first race 2.08pm)