Double delight for Donagh Meyler at Clonmel
Healy Racing Photo
Donagh Meyler took the riding honours at Clonmel when partnering a double aboard Reine Fee and Ask Heather at odds of just over $5.50 with online bookmaker BetEasy.
Reine Fee was sent off the $2.75 favourite for the Coral Bet 5 Get 20 In Free Bets Mares Handicap Hurdle but needed a powerful drive by Meyler on the run-in to just get the better of Claregate Street and Janeymac by a neck and half a length.
Winning trainer Shane Crawley said, “She did it well and Donagh gave her some run down the inner – he wasn’t giving away an inch!
“She’s been knocking on the door and had a good run the last day. It looked a good opportunity today and we’ll find something similar again.”
Meyler followed up when Ask Heather defied top-weight in the Coral Double Your Winnings First Race Every Day Handicap Hurdle.
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The Declan Queally-trained mare has enjoyed a good time in point-to-points this winter and was something of a sensation on You Tube when Mikey Sweeney made a spectacular recovery after a blunder at the last to complete a hat-trick at Boulta in January.
Ask Heather was reverting to hurdles after a fall here last time, and the well-backed 9-2 chance struck the front approaching the final flight before being pushed out to score by a comfortable three lengths.
Declan Queally junior, assistant to his father, said “She did very well point to pointing. Her mark looked favourable and the three miles at this level suited. She is in again at Leopardstown on Monday so we’ll see how she is.
“We said after the fall that we’d take the safe option and go back over hurdles, as the owner wants her as a broodmare. Fair play to Donagh as it was a nice ride and he is very underrated.”