There was Laois success in Downpatrick on Mother’s Day as Seskin Flash claimed glory.
The 5/2 favourite travelled smoothly on his way to victory in the Billie And Bertie FitzGerald Handicap Hurdle on Sunday.
Trained by Philip Dempsey and ridden by Keith Donoghue, the horse saw off the challenge of Our Zebo by seven lengths.
The horse is owned by the Tinnachinch Construction Ltd syndicate and it is through here that the Laois connection is.
The syndicate comprises of Offaly’s Vinny Claffy and Laois’s John Rowney.
Rowney is a native of Clonaslee and has played hurling and football for Clonaslee-St Manman’s over the years – as well as representing his county in hurling for a decade.
While Vinny Claffy, from Doon, was part of the Offaly team which won Leinster football glory in 1997.
This win comes off the back of two successes for Rowney with different horses last August.
Speaking to LaoisToday, Rowney explained how he only purchased the horse recently and instantly put it in the Clonaslee colours.
He said: “I picked him out after his last race in Thurles. He ran there well so I went and bought him.
“I hope it is the start of good things in the Clonaslee colors on race fields and GAA fields.”
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