Hayes continues best season yet as Carrolls Cottage justifies market support

Brian Hayes had never ridden more than 18 winners in a season before this one, but the 2020-21 campaign has been a memorable one for the Cork rider, who took his seasonal tally to 29 aboard the Philip Fenton-trained Carrolls Cottage in the feature handicap hurdle at Limerick on Thursday.

Hayes missed out on The Shunter in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree last week, but a few days earlier registered the second Grade 2 win of his career aboard Easy Game at Fairyhouse for Willie Mullins.

Fenton said of his promising five-year-old, who was backed into 3-1 from a morning price of 9-1: "He had been running on deplorable ground on his last couple of runs and we thought this better ground would help him.

Philip Fenton on Carrolls Cottage: 'I think today's trip [2m5f] is a bit short of his best. He's a nice horse'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Some people are saying that it's on the slow side [of yielding] but that would suit our fella. We were in two minds as to whether we'd draw the line with him or keep going."

He added: "Brian was in the right place at the right time and came wide up the straight, which was a help. I think today's trip [2m5f] is a bit short of his best. He's a nice horse."

Hayes's partner Rachael Blackmore was out of luck on her six mounts, coming closest when third on The Cathal Don and Get Home, and she remains nine adrift of Paul Townend in the jockeys' championship race.

Definiteadare back in business

Definiteadare found one too good when the subject of good market support on his handicap debut at Clonmel a fortnight ago but he went one better when scoring for Tom and Bryan Cooper.

The 6-1 chance was not as strong in the betting this time but there should be more good days ahead for the Frank Reynolds-owned seven-year-old.

Jody Ted: returned to winning ways under Mark McDonaghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was just a bit unlucky at Clonmel when he stumbled at the back of the second-last and pulled a shoe," said the winning trainer. "He probably would have been up in another 20 yards. We had a few quid on the last day but we let him roll away today. He's going the right way."

McDonagh family fortunes on the rise

It was a good afternoon at the office for the McDonagh family as Jody Ted registered the second win of his career under conditional rider Mark McDonagh, son of the winning owner of the same name.

The 11-1 chance scored just 35 minutes before Cratloe, trained by the rider's grandfather Michael, got off the mark at the sixth attempt under Barry Browne at 11-2.

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