Corkery dreaming of more glory with Master McShee at Dublin Racing Festival

Paddy Corkery defied the odds when snaring the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick with Master McShee, one of just a handful of horses the trainer has within his care, and a tilt at the Dublin Racing Festival could be next.

Neither Corkery nor his jockey Ian Power had tasted top-level success prior to Master McShee's big day at Limerick and, while the trainer is keeping a lid on celebrations, he is hopeful of more big-race riches with his horse of a lifetime at Leopardstown in February.

The fact that Master McShee has burst blood vessels in the past could deter Corkery from travelling to Cheltenham but nothing was ruled in or out with the trainer still allowing the Limerick triumph to sink in.

'Horses are a passion for me' - Paddy Corkery elated after first Grade 1 win

He said: "The fact he bursts blood vessels is in the back of my mind. If there’s something nice for him at the Dublin Racing Festival, we’ll have a look at it, but I don’t want to be hard on him because he’s a beautiful horse. I mean, a child would ride him at home. He’s such a nice horse.

"I’m not ruling Cheltenham in or out but he needs a bit of space between his races and I’d be afraid in case he’d burst at Cheltenham. We’ll have a look at the Dublin Racing Festival first and take things from there. We’re still getting over Limerick and we’ll sit down and make a plan in the coming days."

Master McShee about to tackle leader Farouk D'Alene in the Faugheen Novice ChaseCredit: David Keane (racingpost.com/photos)

Corkery revealed he knew Master McShee was in the form of his life before battling best to beat Farouk D'Alene by just a short-head and that he went to Limerick quietly confident of landing a shock.

He explained: "I worked him last week and I said 'wow, this horse is in some form.' I always work him against the clock but I didn't need to look at the clock this time. I knew he was in the form of his life. The signs were there. I wasn't being cocky or disrespectful to anyone else but I really fancied him at Limerick.

"I came home and I had three horses to bring in from the field. I let Master McShee out for a roll and got my evening's work done before going for a few pints. I don't get too high about these things. I'm light-hearted about life and would always look on the bright side of it."

There were major sums offered and refused for Master McShee last season and, as is often the case, Corkery looked foolish for turning down those eye-watering figures when his pride and joy burst blood vessels when seventh behind Appreciate It in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

'I had no reason to take Ian off'

Eyebrows were also raised when Corkery stayed loyal to little-known rider Ian Power, but such foresight was well and truly vindicated at Limerick.

He said: "A little bit of luck takes you a long way and look where it brought us at Limerick. A lot of fellas thought we were mad not to sell the horse last year. They also thought I was mad to put Ian up in a Grade 1. But, the way I looked at it was, Ian was making no mistakes on the horse. I never promised Ian anything but he's never done anything wrong so I had no reason to take him off. It's as simple as that really.

"Limerick was a fantastic feeling and it was obviously a huge achievement," Corkery added. "In fact, I was privileged to be a part of the race, let alone win it. But what I'm saying is I won't get too high and I won't get too low. If you don't come home in the same form you went racing in, well then, this sport is not for you. The highs are too high and the lows are too low and, if you take either too seriously, you won't last long."

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Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.