'I'm emotionally drained more than anything - it was fairytale stuff'

A Cheltenham Festival winner would normally be the highlight of any trainer’s career, but for Pat O’Donnell, Saturday’s family success with Extensio in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh might just be that little bit more special as he provided daughter Sylvia with her first winner.

O’Donnell saddled Chance Coffey under Gerry O’Neill to land the Coral Cup back in 1995, but the Limerick trainer described Saturday’s win as a fairytale as he watched his daughter prevail by half a length on the family-owned and trained gelding.

The son of Xtension was in good form for O’Donnell last season, including a win at Tipperary, and while not in the same fettle this term, he put his best foot forward under his rider’s 7lb claim to charge up the middle of the track and land the spoils, sparking scenes of jubilation in the winner's enclosure.

O’Donnell said: “It was fairytale stuff. When you get home and the dust settles, you're a little conscious of yourself. It was a very emotional day. I’m emotionally drained more than anything.

“It was special. Sylvia had people cheering her on before she went out, let alone the mayhem when we came back in.

“I had to coach her a little and you’ll notice she has got tremendous balance. For me, as a student, she’s really grasped what was required and they need to get race experience."

Extensio (right): a first winner for Sylvia O'DonnellCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

While his Cheltenham heroics are among his best achievements, O'Donnell admits Saturday's exploits might have just topped that memorable day in Prestbury Park.

"Family is everything and anyone that has a daughter would understand that. Both my kids are in the industry, and what Saturday brought was just special. It'll be hard to beat," he added.

Winners have been hard to come by for O’Donnell, with Extensio providing the trainer with his first success of the season and only his fifth in the last five years, but he is not short of confidence and a potential tilt at Galway is now in the pipeline.

“We were confident we had a proper horse when we got this lad and it was all a case of putting a plan in place,” he said.

“Certainly at our level it’s difficult enough to do it, but we don’t lack any confidence in trying to do it and luckily it paid off.”

Read these next:

'It got too tough' - staffing issues force trainer Caroline Bailey to retire

'I've loved my time in racing but it's not for me any more' - jockey quits at 20

Spectacular unseat and final-fence fall leads to unlikely 999-1 in-running win

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.