Hathiq in front at Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Denis Hogan is eyeing a return to Tipperary with Hathiq after his victory there on Sunday.
Having been bought out of Owen Burrows’ yard for just £3,000, he looked a great bit of business when winning at Tipperary and the Curragh in the spring.
He then disappointed as favourite for the Dash at Epsom and in the Rockingham in June, but looked back to his best after a short break, defying top weight.
“It’s been an up and down year with him,” said Hogan.
“It was great to find him, but we rushed him to run at Epsom and we shouldn’t have. Hindsight is wonderful though, and we learned a lot.
“We maybe over-raced him and made the situation worse running him at the Curragh, but we have him back now.
“We’ll go back to Tipperary on the 29th for a Listed race next. He’s got an entry in the Flying Five, but he’d have to win the Listed to justify that.
“The handicapper has given him 6lb so he’s 96 now and we’ll see how he fares.
“I don’t think six furlongs stretches him so the Ayr Gold Cup wouldn’t be ruled out. He was second for us at Dundalk over six, but he has a lot of speed.
“It was soft ground on Sunday and he coped fine. He’s an exciting horse to have and it’s great for the owners, they do plenty of homework.”
