There was Laois success on the race track in Ballinrobe on Monday as Tell Me This claimed the opening race.
At odds of 9/2, the mare claimed the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle by five lengths.
Tell Me This was a recent purchase for Laois man John Rowney, is trained by Ross O’Sullivan and was ridden by Tom Harney.
Earlier this month, Rowney, as part of the Bennett-Kelly Construction Ltd syndicate, had success at the Galway Races.
Rowney is a native of Clonaslee and has played hurling and football for Clonaslee-St Manman’s over the years.
He also represented Laois for a decade from the 2000s onwards and his horse dons the red and white of Clonaslee.
Speaking to LaoisToday, Rowney explained how he only purchased the horse in recent weeks.
He said: “I bought the horse four weeks ago. Ross told me she’d win the first day or the second day.
“She unseated the rider the first day – so the pressure was on but she won.
“Kieran ‘Shaggy’ Leavy from Portarlington was the one who introduced me to Ross on the night that I bought the horse.
“And thankfully he did because with the horse winning and Clonaslee-St Manman’s beating Colt-Shanahoe in the hurling, it capped off a great weekend.”
Speaking to IrishRacing.com, trainer Ross O’Sullivan praised jockey Tom Harney for his ride.
He said: “Her form-figures would put off many a jockey from riding her but Tom knows her well, she is actually very good to jump and will jump a fence in time.
“She’s a lovely big mare which we got from Nina Carberry and she had been unlucky until now, although had a very good first run for us in a competitive maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.
“There were plenty of fancied horses today and she has probably handled that ground better than the summer horses.”
