An Mhi proves popular winner at Tipperary

Meath's legendary centre-back from the 1967 All-Ireland-winning team, who beat Cork by 1-9 to 0-9 in the final, had plenty of reasons to celebrate a victory on the racecourse at Tipperary last Friday. The Joanna Morgan-trained An Mhi got his head in front for jockey Leigh Roche in an apprentice handicap at the Munster track. An Mhi carried the colours of Patricia Cunningham, wife of the former great Meath footballer Bertie who formed part of a solid half-back line which also included Pat Reynolds and Pat 'Red' Collier. Joanna Morgan's mother, Margaret, is also a joint-owner of the lightly-raced five-year-old and according to the trainer, Bertie Cunningham deserves a lot of credit. "That win was a long time coming for An Mhi, we bought him as a yearling and he has been hard to keep sound," she told the Meath Chronicle this week. "Bertie has spent a lot of time with the horse, he is very gentle with him, not at all like the way he used to treat opposing forwards, I have been told," added the trainer. "An Mhi needed time and patience and I'm delighted for everyone involved, we will keep him on the go now and he may head for a race in Killarney next," she suggested. An ideal scenario would be, perhaps, to send An Mhi to run at Dundalk at some stage which would provide many Louth sporting enthusiasts an opportunity to cheer an An Mhi victory. The trainer would not speculate on whether this would be likely to happen. Kevin Prendergast's Snow Watch won the Listed Coolmore Hurricane Run Stakes for Moynalty jockey Declan McDonogh at Tipperary. There may have been shouts of 'Up Meath' in Mayo on Monday night when Anna Montana got her head in front for the first time at the popular Ballinrobe track. Trained by Kiltale-based Ger Lyons, Anna Montana was partnered by Keagan Latham who was also recording his first victory at the Mayo track. Another Meath horse was second, MacTiernan trained by PJ Lally, which kept the Royal County flavour in the winners' enclosure. Anna Montana had the benefit of a good run up the rail to claim the spoils. The locals were also cheering another Meath success when Barry Geraghty won again with recent Galway winner Beau Michael in the FBD Hurdle. Geraghty won the opening race at Kilbeggan on Friday with the Tom Taaffe-trained Steeltown which dug deep for the Drumree jockey from the back of the last to hold off the 5/4 favourite Tango Knight by two and a half lengths. Andy and Andrew were the most popular names at Roscommon after the opening race at the Connacht track last week. Trainer Andy Lynch and jockey Andrew Lynch returned to a popular reception in the winners' enclosure after the unusually-named Ahorsecalledmolly opened up his account over hurdles. Andrew Lynch produced the 12/1 shot to lead approaching two out and kept on well from the last to record a length and a quarter win. "This lad has had a lot of problems. He got a leg two years ago and we had to leave him off," stated Lynch the trainer. "He ran well here first time back and blew up coming into the straight and then ran well at Kilbeggan," he added. Another Meath trainer, Peter Casey from Stamullen, was also on the mark with Macs Mandalas as he got off the mark over fences when claiming the beginners chase. Dunshaughlin jockey Keith Donoghue maintained his good strike-rate when he won an opportunity handicap hurdle for Galway trainer Val O'Brien with On The Button The jockey had to survive a stewards enquiry. Meath owner Basil Brindley was in the winners' enclosure at Leopardstown on Thursday when My Blue Heaven won the last race on the card. My Blue Heaven, trained by avid Dublin supporter Casey at Stamullen, won with some style for jockey Chris Hayes. The three-year-old Desert Prince filly was bred by the owner and was winning for the first time after five placed efforts. Johnny Murtagh completed a treble on the night with two for Aidan O'Brien, Amber Grey in a maiden and Alexander Pope in the opening race. Trainer Eoin Griffin supplied the ammunition for the other winner in the Dodder Handicap with Finicius. Murtagh hit the front close to home for a length and a quarter win over Dotada which is owned by Dunsany man Stephen Curran. Trainer Michael Mulvaney maintained his recent good form when he sent out another winner, this time at Sligo last Wednesday. Last month he won on the flat twice with The Silver Crown and over jumps with Down The Dale, which ran well at Ballinrobe to finish second on Monday evening. Last week at Sligo he saddled his first two-year-old winner when Admiraloftheboyne won a maiden. Jockey Gary Carroll hit the front just inside the final furlong and stayed on strongly to score by two lengths from Miss Windley. The Tony Martin-trained Salute Him could bid to be the second successive Irish-trained winner of the Ebor at York on Wednesday 18th August. Salute Him has 9-5 in the race and can be backed at odds from 14/1 to 25/1 to win the race.