James McAuley (right) with his uncle James Gough and winning rider Jake Coen © Photo Healy Racing
Mischief Star provided James McAuley with a welcome boost, as he ran out a comfortable winner of the opener at Tipperary, the Tipperary Races Claiming Race.
A three-time winner in the UK when trained by David O'Meara, the five-year-old son of Due Diligence had his first start for McAuley at Dundalk in February and was successful at Gowran just last Tuesday.
Sent off at 4/1 this evening, the bay gelding raced prominently under Jake Coen, getting to the front with three furlongs to race.
Pushed from the two furlong pole, he soon went a few lengths clear and kept up the gallop in the closing stages, coming home two-and-quarter-lengths to the good. Cometh The Man (66/1) finished second under Adam Caffrey for Adrian McGuinness, while the Kevin Prendergast trained El Valle (14s to 15/2) was another length-and-three-quarters back in third. Yester was sent off the 3/1 favourite and he finished a disappointing twelfth, fading tamely in the straight.
"That was badly needed as it's been a dreadful week," McAuley stated.
"15 minutes before he ran the last day we got word of the horses running loose and today we lost the eighth horse and another definitely won't run again.
"Something spooked them and they got out. It will put us back on our hocks now what we can run for the summer. We will tip away with the few we have and hopefully come out the other side.
"All we have is this lad, two geldings who were having box rest and the fillies. We’ll do a bit of shopping in July and build a team again for Dundalk.
"This lad had a leg and missed 18 months so if someone wants to take him for 15 grand then so be it. He's a grand horse for that grade."
The first and second were both claimed back by connections. El Valle was claimed for E8,000 and will now be trained by Dick Brabazon. Fox Leicester and Company Keeping were both claimed for E12,000. John Burke will now train the former, while Company Keeping will be trained by P. Dowling.
STEWARDS REPORTS
S.D. Bowen, rider of Fox Leicester trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung in under pressure in the straight.
W. Joyce, rider of Take My Hand trained by Michael Mulvany, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount received pressure from his outside turning into the home straight. The Stewards subsequently reviewed this incident and were satisfied that no further action was warranted.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
