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

Action lands mares handicap in style

Capture The Action and Mike O'Connor Capture The Action and Mike O'Connor
© Photo Healy Racing

Capture The Action produced a couple of spectacular leaps down the home straight to land the spoils in the mares handicap hurdle at Limerick.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained mare swooped through to lead going to the penultimate flight in the two-miler and flew the second last under Mike O'Connor.

She was very good again at the final flight as the 9/2 joint-favourite galloped on strongly for a five-and-a-half length success over 20/1 shot Bluebell Diva

The winner had been second on her latest outing at Wexford and was recording her fourth victory on the racecourse.

"When she won the confined (point to point) in Carrigtwohill, we honestly thought that was her lot because she was very average,” said Mangan.

“But she just got better and better and we found out a secret about her, you must give the outside to no one. She will not jump or go in amongst horses.

"I said ‘Mikey, give the outside to no one’ and not too many trainers give that instruction.

“He started off with me, as a young lad and I’m delighted to give him a winner. He was with me until he finished school and then he went to Henry (De Bromhead). I told him he had to go somewhere. He’s in the right place and please God he goes up the ladder.

“That’s his first winner for me. He hasn’t had too many rides for me because every time I ring, Henry has a horse. It was just lucky he didn’t have one today. He’s well able to ride.”

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

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.