'There's plenty of racing in him' - Corkery biding his time with Master McShee

Trainer Paddy Corkery is biding his time with his stable star, Grade 1-winning chaser Master McShee, and believes the nine-year-old has plenty of racing left in him after plans were shelved to run him at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Master McShee landed the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick in 2021 and has subsequently chased home Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs on two occasions before finishing fourth to Energumene in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork last month on his reappearance.

The son of Malinas, who is one of just three horses trained by former tractor mechanic Corkery, has been plagued by burst blood vessels, including in the Hilly Way.

“He burst again after the last day,” said Corkery. “It’s a sickening thing really and it’s a difficult one to fathom. The frost and ground wasn’t the best that time in Cork and all I’m thinking about now is trying to get him right.

“I had mentioned going over to Cheltenham. I was thinking of running him in the handicap chase on New Year's Day. It was me that pulled the plug on it – I just thought it was best to leave him off for a while.

"I’ll get him started up again next week and we’ll go again from there. There’s plenty of racing in him but I have to do what’s right by the horse as well."

Corkery is based in Villierstown, County Waterford, just a few miles from fellow small trainer Robert Murphy, who tasted Grade 2 success in November when Darrens Hope won the Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown at 20-1.

Grade 2 winning mare Darrens Hope with trainer Robert MurphyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The mare saw off Minella Crooner by a head, giving dairy farmer Murphy his biggest success, and had been entered for the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick last week, but Murphy decided not to run.

The trainer said: “We’re still delighted with her. There was nothing wrong and no reason why we didn’t, but there’s just no rush with her. We’ll wait a month and we’ll see what we’ll do.”

Murphy is conscious Darrens Hope has potential as a broodmare, and will do everything to protect those interests.

“She should make a fine mare for breeding and we’re aware of that,” said Murphy. “We’re trying to look after her as best we can. She will probably run in February. I haven’t found a race for her yet but there is no real rush with her.”

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